Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| смерть | smertʹ | [smʲertʲ] (narrow) | feminine |
| ги́бель | gíbelʹ | feminine | |
| поги́бель | pogíbelʹ | feminine | |
| кончи́на | končína | feminine |
The primary way to refer to the cessation of life is using the noun смерть. When personifying death, you may also see the terms костлявая or а́нгел сме́рти.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective костлявая is used as a personification of death, literally meaning 'the bony one'.
Which one should you use?
смерть is the standard, neutral term for the biological cessation of life. In contrast, ги́бель and поги́бель often imply a sudden, violent or tragic death, such as a loss or destruction occurring in an accident or war. Finally, кончи́на is a more formal term used to refer to a passing or demise.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun смерть is feminine. When you need to indicate possession or a relationship, such as in the phrase 'cause of death' (причина смерти), the word changes to the genitive form смерти.
How do you pronounce it?
smertʹ
Did you know?
- In Russian folklore, death is not always a skeleton. She is sometimes depicted as a woman with a long braid who takes the soul using a sickle or a comb.
- Russians sometimes use the phrase смертельная скука to describe extreme boredom. While it literally translates to 'deadly boredom', it is used commonly in everyday conversation.
- The term гибель is frequently used to describe the 'death' or total destruction of a city or a ship, whereas смерть is almost exclusively reserved for living beings.
Examples in context
- Жизнь – это смерть.Life is death.This sentence illustrates a philosophical statement using смерть.Tatoeba #3951809 by marafon, translation #9770510 by DJ_Saidez
- Ты похож на смерть.You look like death.This sentence uses смерть to describe a person's appearance.Tatoeba #4267896 by marafon, translation #3825427 by CK
- Смерть – это право.Death is a right.This sentence uses смерть to state a right.Tatoeba #6761018 by marafon, translation #2570630 by sabretou
- Он скончался вчера.He passed away yesterday.
- Ушла от нас наша любимая кошка.Our beloved cat passed away.
- 299 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Dmitry are talking about a news report.
- Мария MariaТы слышал про его смерть?Ty slyshal pro yego smert'?Did you hear about his death?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, это очень печально.Da, eto ochen' pechal'no.Yes, it is very sad.
- Мария MariaДмитрий, это был шок.Dmitriy, eto byl shok.Dmitry, it was a shock.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ тоже так думаю.Ya tozhe tak dumayu.I think so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “death” translations and entries смерть, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
