01
tot
dead
No longer alive; deceased.
example
Nach dem langen Winter waren leider viele Pflanzen tot.
After the long winter, many plants were unfortunately dead.
tot
dead
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'tot' (dead) is closely related to the noun 'der Tod' (death; the state of no longer being alive) and the verb 'töten' (to kill; to make someone dead). All three words have the same root.
EXAMPLE
Der plötzliche Tod des Autors schockierte die Leserschaft.
The sudden death of the author shocked the readership.
No comparison
'Tot' (dead) is an absolute adjective. That means it cannot be compared. Something cannot be 'toter' (deader) or 'am totesten' (the deadest).
EXAMPLE
Der Vogel lag tot im Garten.
The bird was lying dead in the garden.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression 'tote Hose sein' means that nothing is happening at a place or event. It is often used to express boredom.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Party war gestern wirklich tote Hose.
The party yesterday was really dead.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, 'tot' (dead) is used for technical devices that no longer work. This is heard especially often with batteries, rechargeable batteries, or phone connections.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann dich nicht anrufen, mein Akku ist tot.
I can't call you; my battery is dead.
Hyperbolic expression
The reflexive expression 'sich totlachen' (to laugh oneself silly) is a strong exaggeration (hyperbole) and means that someone has to laugh extremely hard. The structure 'sich tot-' can also be combined with other verbs, e.g. 'sich totärgern' (to be extremely annoyed).
EXAMPLE
Der Film war so komisch, ich habe mich totgelacht.
The film was so funny, I laughed myself silly.
Compare with
tot vs Tod
death
'der Tod' and 'tot' both talk about someone or something no longer being alive. The important difference is the part of speech: 'der Tod' is a noun and means the end of life. 'tot' is an adjective and describes the state of a person, animal, or plant. Learners can easily confuse the words because they look similar and belong to the same topic. For example, you say 'der Tod eines Menschen' (the death of a person), but 'der Mensch ist tot' (the person is dead).
tot
Als wir den Vogel fanden, war er schon tot.
When we found the bird, it was already dead.
Tod
Der Tod des Hundes war für das Kind sehr traurig.
The death of the dog was very sad for the child.
In real life
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