adjectiveother
verstorben
deceased
Eine Person ist nicht mehr am Leben.
Definition & meaning
The word verstorben is the past participle of the verb versterben , which means "to pass away" or "to die."
In modern German, it is used in two primary ways:
- Adjective (deceased): It refers to a person who has died. It is a formal, respectful, and slightly euphemistic way to describe someone who is no longer alive. It is often used in formal contexts, obituaries, or legal documents.
- Verb (past participle): It functions as the past participle of the intransitive verb versterben, indicating the completion of the action of dying.
Grammar & Word origin
- Grammar: It is a past participle used primarily as an adjective. As an adjective, it follows standard German declension rules (e.g., der verstorbene Mann, die verstorbene Frau).
- Word origin: It is derived from the prefix ver- (which often denotes a completed process or a change of state) and the Old High German sterban (to die).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- tot (dead - more direct and less formal)
- dahingeschieden (passed away - very formal/poetic)
- verblichen (departed - archaic/literary)
- hingegangen (passed away - euphemistic)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Ihr Großvater ist kürzlich verstorben.adjective
Her grandfather has recently passed away.
Mein Onkel ist leider verstorben.adjective
Unfortunately, my uncle has passed away.
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