Verstorbene

Verstorbene is a German noun meaning "the deceased" or "the dead," used to refer to a person who has died. It is common in obituary notices, cemetery records, church and civil memorial services, and medical or administrative reports. The term can refer to an individual or to a group of people who have died. It is a formal, respectful designation that distinguishes the living from those who have passed away.

Grammatical notes: The word has gendered forms: der Verstorbene (masculine singular) and die Verstorbene (feminine singular). The plural is die Verstorbenen. In everyday usage, many notices and texts use Verstorbene without explicitly marking gender.

Usage and context: In obituaries and memorial texts, Verstorbene is usually accompanied by biographical details such as name, date of birth and death, age, and sometimes cause of death. Within legal or church records it appears in formulary phrases such as "die Verstorbenen" or "im Gedächtnis der Verstorbenen." The term is distinct from the verb to die; it denotes the state of having died rather than the act itself.

Cultural and legal notes: In German-speaking regions, language of mourning tends toward dignity and precision. Death certificates (Todesurkunde) and inheritance or probate records commonly refer to the Verstorbene, and archival materials may be subject to local rules on privacy and access.