sterben
Translation
to die
Examples
Mein Großvater ist letztes Jahr gestorben.
My grandfather died last year.
Er ist an einer Krankheit gestorben.
He died of an illness.
Ich sterbe vor Hunger!
I'm dying of hunger!
Grammar Patterns
((an+3)) to die of (an illness) Er ist an Krebs gestorben.
((für+4)) to die for (a cause) Der Soldat ist für sein Land gestorben.
((vor+3)) to be dying of (an emotion/cause) Ich sterbe vor Langeweile.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ums Leben kommen (to perish), versterben (formal: to pass away); Antonyms: leben (to live)
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *sterbaną ('to be stiff, die'). It is cognate with the English word 'starve', which originally meant 'to die' (not just from hunger).
Memory Tips
Connect 'sterben' to its English cousin 'starve'. Imagine that in old times, starving was a common way to 'sterben' (die).