mors
[ˈmɔrs]feminine
The Latin word for death is mors, a feminine noun for the end of life. Latin also has nex, letum, obitus and other words with special shades of meaning. If unsure, use mors. Wiktionary also lists exitium and quietus.
Meaning: cessation of life (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mors | [ˈmɔrs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈmɔrs] (narrow) |
feminine |
| nex | [ˈnɛks] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈnɛks] (narrow) |
feminine |
| exitium | [ɛkˈsɪ.ti.ũː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [eɡˈzit.t͡si.um] (narrow) |
neuter |
| quietus | [kʷiˈeː.tʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [kʷiˈɛː.tus] (narrow) |
masculine |
| letum | [ˈɫeː.tũː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈlɛː.tum] (narrow) |
neuter |
| finis | [ˈfiː.nɪs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈfiː.nis] (narrow) |
feminine, masculine |
| obitus | [ˈɔ.bɪ.tʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈɔː.bi.tus] (narrow) |
masculine |
| funus | [ˈfuː.nʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈfuː.nus] (narrow) |
neuter |
mors is the general word for death and the one you see in many Latin mottos and sayings.
Which one should you use?
nex is a violent or unnatural death, such as murder or slaughter. exitium is death through destruction or ruin. obitus is a passing away, much like the English euphemism passing. funus refers more to the funeral and its rites. finis can mean death in a figurative way, the end of one's life. letum and exitus are more formal words for death.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
mors is a feminine noun of the third declension.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use funus for death itself. It means the funeral rather than the state of being dead.
Did you know?
- The Latin word nex is a distant relative of the Welsh word 'angau', both originating from a root meaning 'to disappear'.
- While mors is the general term, the word nex is used specifically for violent deaths and is the root of the English word 'necropsy'.
- The word obitus shares a root with the English word 'obituary', which describes the event of a person's passing.
Examples in context
- Vidē quam turpī lētō pereāmus!See what a disgraceful death we die!lētō is a form of the word for death, here describing a shameful death.
- Mors timenda non est.Death is not to be feared.Mors is the subject, saying death is not to be feared.Tatoeba #1387681 by alexmarcelo, translation #1387679 by DJ_Saidez
- Mors remedium non est.Death is not the answer.Mors is again the subject, saying death is not the answer.Tatoeba #13910221 by rul, translation #10598503 by DJ_Saidez
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends discuss the cycle of life in a garden.
- GaiusMors omnibus hominibus venit.Death comes for all humans.
- LuciaSed vita pulchra est, Gai.But life is beautiful, Gaius.
- GaiusIta, sed mors est finis naturalis.Yes, but death is a natural end.
- LuciaHoc verum est, amīce mē.That is true, my friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “death” translations and entries mors, nex, exitium, quietus, letum, finis, obitus, funus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries exitium, mors, nex, quietus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
