du wirst sterben
The English phrase "you will die" can be translated into German as du wirst sterben.
This phrase is used to make a statement informing someone that their life will come to an end. For a more colloquial or slang expression meaning "You're gonna bite the dust" or "You're a goner", you can use Du gehst drauf.
Which one should you use?
du wirst sterben is the version used for friends or children, whereas Sie werden sterben is the formal version used for strangers or in professional settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the future tense construction, which consists of the conjugated form of werden (to become/will) and the infinitive sterben (to die).
Did you know?
- German has a specific word Sterbebegleiter for a person who accompanies someone during the process of dying.
- The German verb sterben is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'starve'. While 'starve' today implies dying from hunger, in German, the connection to losing strength or becoming numb is much more direct.
- Using du instead of Sie when telling someone du wirst sterben can be seen as an aggressive act of dominance or a sign of extreme intimacy.
Examples in context
- Du wirst sterben.You will die.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase du wirst sterben.Tatoeba #3540123 by JWeighardt, translation #2255306 by CK
- Du wirst sterben, wenn du das tust.You will die if you do that.
- Glaub mir, du wirst sterben.Believe me, you will die.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, sterben, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
