ich will sterben
The English phrase "I wanna die" is translated into German as ich will sterben.
ich will sterben is used to express a literal desire to end one's own life.
Did you know?
- The German verb sterben is a distant relative of the English word 'starve'. While in English 'to starve' usually refers to hunger, both words share an ancient root related to becoming numb or losing vitality.
- In some German dialects, particularly in the north, you might hear the word verrecken used to describe a death. It is much more blunt and often implies a painful or undignified end, similar to 'to croak' in English.
- While ich will sterben is a literal statement, a German speaker expressing mere boredom or frustration might instead use the hyperbole Ich könnte sterben, which translates to 'I could die'.
Examples in context
- Ich will einfach nur sterben.I just want to die.
- Manchmal denke ich, ich will sterben.Sometimes I think I want to die.
Example conversation
Julian is talking to Sarah about his deep depression.
- JulianIch kann nicht mehr, ich will sterben.I can't take it anymore, I want to die.
- SarahBitte sag das nicht, Julian.Please don't say that, Julian.
- JulianEs gibt für mich keinen Ausweg mehr.There is no way out for me anymore.
- SarahWir finden gemeinsam eine Lösung.We will find a solution together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, sterben, CC BY-SA 4.0.
