sterben
Translation
to die, to pass away
Examples
Die alte Pflanze stirbt.
The old plant is dying.
Er stirbt vor Langeweile.
He is dying of boredom.
Mein Großvater ist letztes Jahr gestorben.
My grandfather died last year.
Grammar Patterns
an+3 ((sth.dat)) to die of (an illness) He died of an illness.
vor+3 ((sth.dat)) to die of/from (an emotion, cause) She is dying of fear.
für+4 ((sth.acc)) to die for (a cause) The soldier died for his country.
Similar Words
umkommen (to perish), ableben (to pass away, formal); Antonym: leben (to live)
Etymology
Cognate with the English word 'starve', which originally meant 'to die' (not necessarily from hunger).
Memory Tips
Note the vowel change in the present tense: st**e**rben -> er st**i**rbt. Think of a star that 'dies' and falls from the sky.