Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| morire | /moˈri.re/ | |
| crepare | /kreˈpa.re/ | informal |
| cadere | /kaˈde.re/ |
The primary way to say 'to die' is with morire. In specialized settings, other verbs may be used: decedere is a term frequently found in legal or medical contexts, while perire is a formal verb used for literary or poetic purposes.
Which one should you use?
While morire is the standard neutral term, crepare is a much more vulgar and blunt way to say 'to die', similar to the English 'to croak' or 'to kick the bucket'. Additionally, cadere literally means 'to fall', but it can be used figuratively in literature or formal contexts to mean 'to die', such as when someone falls in battle.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Morire is the standard, neutral verb. Crepare is a colloquial and rather informal way to express the idea. For high-register or literary settings, you might encounter perire and for professional medical or legal contexts, decedere is preferred.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using morire in compound tenses, you must use the auxiliary verb essere (to be) instead of avere (to have), such as in the phrase è morto (he died/he is dead).
How do you pronounce it?
The verb is pronounced /moˈri.re/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The vulgar term crepare does not originally mean 'to die', but instead comes from the Latin word for making a 'rattling' or 'cracking' sound.
- The poetic verb perire is often used to describe deaths involving a sudden disaster or total destruction.
- Using crepare to refer to a person is considered extremely offensive and dehumanizing.
Examples in context
- È ora di morire.Time to die.The sentence shows how to use morire to state it is time to die.Tatoeba #3461873 by Guybrush88, translation #1453235 by Spamster
- Io sto per morire?Am I going to die?This example uses morire to form a question about dying.Tatoeba #1998929 by Guybrush88, translation #1886370 by CK
- Io sto per morire.I'm about to die.This example uses morire to express being about to die.Tatoeba #2930431 by Guybrush88, translation #1202147 by CM
- Sfortunatamente, il signore è morto ieri.Unfortunately, the gentleman died yesterday.
- Il paziente è deceduto durante l'intervento chirurgico.The patient passed away during the surgery.
- Il cavaliere perì in una feroce battaglia.The knight perished in a fierce battle.
- Mi hai fatto ridere così tanto che stavo per crepare dal ridere!You made me laugh so much that I was about to die laughing!
- 627 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a character in a novel.
- AlessandroIl protagonista deve morire alla fine?Does the protagonist have to die at the end?
- MartinaSì, purtroppo deve morire.Yes, unfortunately he must die.
- AlessandroÈ un finale molto triste.It is a very sad ending.
- MartinaSì, ma la storia è bellissima.Yes, but the story is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “die” translations and entries morire, crepare, cadere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cadere, crepare, morire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
