verstorben
deceased
No longer alive; dead. It is a formal and respectful way of saying 'tot' (dead).
EXAMPLE
Der verstorbene Autor hat viele berühmte Romane hinterlassen.
The deceased author left behind many famous novels.
verstorben
deceased
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Verstorben' (deceased) is the past participle of the verb 'versterben' (to pass away). This verb is a formal variant of 'sterben' (to die). The prefix 'ver-' here indicates a completed process.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma wird nun von der Tochter des verstorbenen Gründers geleitet.
The company is now run by the daughter of the deceased founder.
Register and style
This word is used to express respect. You often find it in official announcements, obituaries, or when speaking about a dead person in a formal or reverent way.
EXAMPLE
In der Zeitung stand eine Anzeige für die kürzlich verstorbene Nachbarin.
There was a notice in the newspaper for the recently deceased neighbor.
Use as a noun
The word can be nominalized to refer to the person who has died. You then say 'der Verstorbene' (the deceased man/person) or 'die Verstorbene' (the deceased woman/person).
EXAMPLE
Die Familie des Verstorbenen bittet anstelle von Blumen um eine Spende.
The family of the deceased asks for a donation instead of flowers.
Compare with
verstorben vs verschieden
different / various
Verschieden and verstorben can both express that someone is no longer alive. Verstorben is the usual neutral and polite form today. Verschieden sounds elevated and old-fashioned in this meaning, so it is more suited to deliberately archaic language.
verstorben
Unser langjähriger Nachbar ist gestern verstorben.
Our longtime neighbor passed away yesterday.
verschieden
Unser langjähriger Nachbar ist gestern verschieden.
Our longtime neighbor passed away yesterday.
In real life
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