sterblichen

Sterblichen is a German term commonly used as a noun meaning “the mortals” or “mortal beings.” It designates human beings who are subject to death, in contrast with immortals such as gods or other mythic entities. The concept appears in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts to highlight the human condition, finitude, and the limits of life.

Grammatically, the noun form is typically capitalized as Sterbliche in the singular or Die Sterblichen in the plural. The lowercase inflected form sterblichen appears as an adjective, for example in phrases like unter sterblichen Wesen (among mortal beings) or die sterblichen Menschen (the mortal humans). The word derives from sterblich, meaning mortal, which itself comes from the verb sterben, “to die,” with the adjectival suffix -lich.

Usage and nuance: die Sterblichen is often employed to distinguish humans from immortals or divine beings, especially in theological or mythological discourse. In fantasy or speculative fiction, the term can mark a boundary between mortal and quasi-immortal races or figures. As a collective noun, it can convey humanity as a group, emphasizing shared vulnerability and the universality of death.

Related concepts include mortality and immortality, with sterblichs usage pervading discussions of fate, ethics, and the human experience across religious, philosophical, and literary texts.