quelqu'un est décédé
To say "someone passed away" in French, use quelqu'un est décédé.
This phrase is used to express that someone has died. It serves as a polite euphemism for death.
Which one should you use?
While quelqu'un est mort is a direct way to say someone died, quelqu'un est décédé is a more polite and formal euphemism, similar to the English "passed away".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The verb décéder is used in a formal register. It is appropriate for official contexts, obituaries or when you wish to show respect to a grieving family.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the auxiliary verb être (to be) rather than avoir (to have) to form the passé composé.
Did you know?
- The word est is one of only two words in the entire French language, alongside Jésus-Christ, that keeps a silent internal 's' in its modern spelling.
- In very formal French condolences, it is common to use the phrase je suis navré rather than je suis désolé to express sorrow over someone who has décédé.
- Despite its meaning, the verb décéder cannot be used transitively in French, meaning you can never 'cause' someone to décéder in a sentence.
Examples in context
- On m'a dit que quelqu'un est décédé soudainement.I was told that someone passed away suddenly.
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are talking about a recent news report.
- EmmaLucas, as-tu entendu la nouvelle ?Lucas, did you hear the news?
- LucasNon, que se passe-t-il ?No, what is happening?
- EmmaApparemment, quelqu'un est décédé dans cet accident.Apparently, someone passed away in that accident.
- LucasOh, c'est vraiment triste.Oh, that is really sad.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, quelqu'un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
