Verstirbt

Verstirbt is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb versterben, which means to die or to pass away. The verb is intransitive and is used to describe the death of a person, often in formal, neutral, or factual contexts such as news reports, medical discussions, or obituaries. In everyday language, the more common verb sterben is frequently used.

Etymology and usage notes: versterben is formed from the verb sterben (to die) with the prefix ver-, which can add nuance related to completion or change of state. The prefix does not change the essential meaning here; versterben remains a direct way to state that someone has died. The term is appropriate in neutral narration and public discourse, while more intimate or colloquial speech might prefer sterben or euphemisms.

Conjugation overview: In the present tense, forms include ich versterbe, du verstirbst, er verstirbt, wir versterben, ihr verstirbt, sie versterben. The simple past (Präteritum) is typically verstarb for the third person singular and verstarben for the plural. The perfect form is ich bin verstorben, du bist verstorben, er ist verstorben, with the past participle verstorben. The future is commonly formed with werde: er wird versterben.

Noun forms and related usage: The past participle verstorben is used with ist to form the present perfect: Er ist verstorben. As a noun, der Verstorbene (singular, masculine) or die Verstorbene (singular, feminine) refers to the deceased person; die Verstorbenen is the plural. An adjective form, verstorben, describes someone who has died, as in ein verstorbener Mann.

See also: versterben contrasts with sterben (more general). In obituaries and memorial writing, formal phrasing or the noun Verstorbenen may appear.