est mort
The English phrase 'died' is translated into French as est mort.
This phrase is used to say that a person or animal has stopped living.
Which one should you use?
While it is translated as 'died' in many English contexts, est mort literally translates to 'is dead' because it uses the auxiliary verb 'être' (to be).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
est décédé is a more formal and respectful way to say 'died' than est mort. For an informal way to say someone has passed away or has left, you can use est parti(e).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes to est morte if the subject is a female person or a feminine noun. The plural form for a group of females is sont mortes. When using the formal term est décédé, use est décédé for a man and est décédée for a woman.
Did you know?
- The adjective mort is used in common French idioms to describe someone who is extremely tired or laughing uncontrollably.
- The word mort is a direct descendant of the Latin word mortuus. This linguistic link connects the French phrase to almost all Romance languages.
- In French, the state of being dead is viewed as a change of state, which is why the grammar requires the verb être.
Examples in context
- Qui est mort ?Who died?This sentence is useful for asking who died using est mort.Tatoeba #2005260 by sacredceltic, translation #2005187 by CK
- La pile est morte.The battery died out.This sentence is useful for saying a battery died out using est mort.Tatoeba #1012879 by sacredceltic, translation #1009258 by AOCinJAPAN
- Tom est mort seul.Tom died alone.This sentence is useful for describing how someone died using est mort.Tatoeba #2352474 by Amastan, translation #1868373 by CK
- Je regrette de vous informer que votre grand-père est décédé.I regret to inform you that your grandfather has died.
- Nous avons appris que notre cher collègue est décédé hier soir.We have learned that our dear colleague passed away last night.
- Nos pensées vont vers toi et ta famille depuis que ton oncle est parti.Our thoughts are with you and your family since your uncle passed away.
- 383 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are discussing an old family pet.
- HugoOù est ton vieux chien ?Where is your old dog?
- EmmaMalheureusement, il est mort l'année dernière.Unfortunately, he died last year.
- HugoJe suis désolé d'entendre ça, Emma.I am sorry to hear that, Emma.
- EmmaC'est gentil, merci Hugo.That is kind, thank you Hugo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, mort, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
