Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| verstorben | /fɛʁˈʃtɔʁbn̩/ |
| gestorben | /ɡəˈʃtɔʁbən/ |
| tot | /toːt/ |
In German, there are different ways to describe someone who is no longer alive depending on whether you want to be neutral, polite or describe the specific action of dying. Use verstorben to describe the state of being deceased in a respectful, euphemistic way, similar to 'passed away'. Use tot to state the plain fact that someone or something is dead.
Which one should you use?
The word tot is a direct, neutral equivalent of 'dead' and can be used for both people and animals.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term Verstorbene or Verstorbener is a formal way to refer to a deceased person, often used in official or respectful contexts. Specifically, Verstorbene is used for deceased women, while Verstorbener carries an elevated, respectful tone. The adjective verstorben is also considered a more respectful and polite choice than the neutral tot.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛɐ̯ˈʃtɔʁbn̩/
Did you know?
- In German, the verb sterben is used for people, but when talking about animals or plants, speakers often use verrecken for a sudden or violent death.
- The phrase totgesagt describes something that is rumored to be dead or obsolete, but is actually still active or influential.
- The word tot is often used in compound nouns to describe things that are non-functional, such as a 'toter Winkel', which means a 'dead angle' or blind spot.
Examples in context
- Die Tote war 18 Jahre alt.The deceased was eighteen years old.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the adjective tot.Tatoeba #9977734 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9976799 by Nylez
- Weiß jemand, wie der Verstorbene hieß?Does anyone know the name of the deceased?This sentence shows how to use the noun Verstorbene to ask about a deceased person.Tatoeba #12546812 by mayabe, translation #953243 by CK
- Ich kannte den Verstorbenen ziemlich lange.I have known the deceased for a long time.This sentence demonstrates how to use the noun Verstorbene when discussing someone you knew.Tatoeba #1788985 by Aldain, translation #629072 by Eldad
- Er/Sie war ein wunderbarer Mensch und wird immer in unseren Herzen weiterleben.He/She was a wonderful person and will always live on in our hearts.
- Der/die Verstorbene hinterlässt seine/ihre Ehefrau/Ehemann, zwei Kinder und drei Enkelkinder.The deceased is survived by his/her wife/husband, two children, and three grandchildren.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are discussing a distant relative at a cafe.
- LauraIst dein Großvater bereits verstorben?Has your grandfather already passed away?
- JulianJa, er ist leider vor einem Jahr verstorben.Yes, unfortunately he passed away a year ago.
- LauraDas tut mir sehr leid.I am very sorry to hear that.
- JulianDanke, Laura.Thank you, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deceased” translations and entries verstorben, gestorben, tot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
