twilight years
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twilight years
The final stage in a person's life, usually the period after the end of working life in retirement.
Sie verbringen ihren Lebensabend in einem kleinen Haus am Meer.
They are spending their twilight years in a small house by the sea.
'Lebensabend' is a metaphor. It is made up of 'das Leben' (life) and 'der Abend' (evening) and poetically describes the final stage of life as the 'evening of life'.
Er blickt zufrieden auf sein Leben zurück und genießt nun seinen Lebensabend.
He looks back on his life with satisfaction and is now enjoying his twilight years.
This noun is almost always used with a possessive pronoun to show whose phase of life is meant. So you say 'seinen Lebensabend' (his twilight years), 'ihren Lebensabend' (her/their twilight years), and so on.
Meine Großeltern verbringen ihren Lebensabend in den Bergen.
My grandparents are spending their twilight years in the mountains.
The expression has a respectful and slightly elevated style. It is often used to speak positively about the time spent in retirement.
Nach einem langen Arbeitsleben wünscht er sich einen ruhigen Lebensabend.
After a long working life, he wishes for peaceful twilight years.
Common verbs are 'den Lebensabend verbringen' (to spend one's twilight years), 'genießen' (to enjoy), or 'gestalten' (to shape). Typical adjectives are 'ruhig' (quiet), 'friedlich' (peaceful), or 'wohlverdient' (well-deserved).
Sie gestalten ihren Lebensabend aktiv mit Reisen und Hobbys.
They actively shape their twilight years with travel and hobbies.
autumn / fall
Der Herbst and der Lebensabend can both refer to the final stage of life. Der Herbst is a poetic image for old age. Der Lebensabend is the established term for this stage of life, especially the period of retirement.
Seit seinem Ruhestand genießt Paul einen ruhigen Lebensabend.
Since retiring, Paul has been enjoying peaceful twilight years.
In seinem Gedicht blickt Paul ruhig auf den Herbst seines Lebens.
In his poem, Paul calmly looks back on the autumn of his life.
