How to say “die” around the world
5,249 languages · 282 in their own spelling
Dots of one colour begin with a similar sound. Colours group words by the class of their first consonant (a sound-class method used in linguistics): words that begin alike share a colour. This shows resemblance, not common origin — proving relationship needs case-by-case comparison. Readable forms come from Wiktionary translation tables; many smaller languages come from the ASJP word lists, in ASJP’s simplified transcription.
| Language | Word | Romanization | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 死 | sǐ | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | die | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | morir | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | मरना | marnā | Indo-European |
| Arabic | مَاتَ | māta | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | মরা | mora | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | mati | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | morrer | Indo-European | |
| French | mourir | Indo-European | |
| Russian | умира́ть | umirátʹ | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 死ぬ | shinu | Japonic |
| Marathi | मरणे | marṇe | Indo-European |
| Swahili | kufa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | ölmek | Turkic | |
| Telugu | చనిపోవు | canipōvu | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 死 | ²xi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Korean | 죽다 | jukda | Koreanic |
| German | sterben | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | chết | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | இற | iṟa | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 死 | sei² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | مَرْنا | marnā | Indo-European |
| Italian | morire | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | مات | māt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | મરવું | marvũ | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | مُرْدَن | mordan | Indo-European |
| Bhojpuri | मरल | maral | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 死 | sí | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 死 | sí | Sino-Tibetan |
| Nigerian Pidgin | kpeme | Indo-European | |
| Jinyu Chinese | 死 | si² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Levantine Arabic | مات | māt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Kannada | ಸಾಯು | sāyu | Dravidian |
| Polish | umierać | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | kú | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Xiang Chinese | 死 | sr³ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Malayalam | മരിക്കുക | marikkuka | Dravidian |
| Odia | ମରିବା | maribā | Indo-European |
| Burmese | သေ | se | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | مات | māt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Ukrainian | умира́ти | umyráty | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | oʻlmoq | Turkic | |
| Romanian | muri | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | doodgaan | Indo-European | |
| Gan Chinese | 死 | si³ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Amharic | መሞት | mämot | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | ตาย | dtaai | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | kufa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | у̀мирати | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | តាយ | taay | Austroasiatic |
| Turkmen | ölmek | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | matay | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | मर्नु | marnu | Indo-European |
| Assamese | মৰ | mor | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | මැරෙනවා | mærenawā | Indo-European |
| Greek | πεθαίνω | pethaíno | Indo-European |
| Kurdish | mirin | Indo-European | |
| Tajik | мурдан | murdan | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠝꠞꠣ | mora | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | өлу | ölüw | Turkic |
| Hungarian | hal | Uralic | |
| Kinyarwanda | -pfa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Zulu | -fa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | kufá | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | wu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | مړل | mṛə́l | Indo-European |
| Czech | umírat | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | ئۆلمەك | ölmek | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | doodgaan | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 死 | sī | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | mouri | Indo-European | |
| Dari | مُرْدَن | murdan | Indo-European |
| Swedish | dö | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | ölmək | Turkic | |
| Iloko | matay | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | уми́рам | umíram | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | matay | Austronesian | |
| Belarusian | паміра́ць | pamirácʹ | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ምሟት | məmʷat | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | murì | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | مردن | mirdin | Indo-European |
| Danish | dø | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | umierať | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | -shwa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Finnish | kuolla | Uralic | |
| Lao | ຕາຍ | tāi | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | dø | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | үләргә | ülärgä | Turkic |
| Catalan | morir | Indo-European | |
| Sicilian | muriri | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | өлүү | ölüü | Turkic |
| Swiss German | steerbe | Indo-European | |
| Tswana | -swa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Armenian | մեռնել | meṙnel | Indo-European |
| Lithuanian | mirti | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | dai | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | morì | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | კვდება | ḳvdeba | Kartvelian |
| Albanian | vdes | Indo-European | |
| Mongolian | өнгөрөх | öngöröx | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Galician | morrer | Indo-European | |
| Slovenian | umirati | Indo-European | |
| Bouyei | daail | Tai-Kadai | |
| Esperanto | morti | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | умира | umira | Indo-European |
| Sichuan Yi | ꌦ | sy | Sino-Tibetan |
| Piedmontese | murì | Indo-European | |
| Venetian | morir | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | dai | Tai-Kadai | |
| Latvian | mirt | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | wañuy | Quechuan | |
| Scots | dee | Indo-European | |
| Chechen | делла | della | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Venda | -fa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Estonian | surema | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | үлеү | ülew | Turkic |
| Tibetan | འཆི་བ | 'chi ba | Sino-Tibetan |
| Muong | chết | Austroasiatic | |
| Romagnol | murir | Indo-European | |
| Urhobo | ghwu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Bakhtiari | مردن | morden | Indo-European |
| Central Okinawan | まーすん | māsun | Japonic |
| Kachin | si | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Khasi | iap | Austroasiatic | |
| Mon | ချိုတ် | Austroasiatic | |
| Western Frisian | deagean | Indo-European | |
| Iu Mien | daic | Hmong-Mien | |
| South Sudanese Creole Arabic | mutu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Maranao | matay | Austronesian | |
| Avar | хвезе | xʷeze | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | marde | Indo-European | |
| Welsh | marw | Indo-European | |
| Rusyn | умерати | umeraty | Indo-European |
| Morisyen | mor | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | mori | Indo-European | |
| Maltese | miet | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Occitan | morir | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | moï | Indo-European | |
| Mizo | thi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Tetum | mate | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | morrer | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | өл | öl | Turkic |
| Kumyk | оьлмек | ölmek | Turkic |
| Samoan | oti | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | dede | Indo-European | |
| Dhivehi | މަރުވަނީ | maruvanī | Indo-European |
| Papiamento | muri | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | deyja | Indo-European | |
| Friulian | murî | Indo-European | |
| Jarai | djai | Austronesian | |
| Ao Naga | asü | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Dzongkha | ཤི | shi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ܡܵܝܹܬ | mayet | Afro-Asiatic |
| Zeelandic | sterve | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | үхэхэ | üxexe | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Amis | mapatay | Austronesian | |
| Māori | mate | Austronesian | |
| Abkhaz | аҧсра | apsra | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | mate | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | daatsaah | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Bahnar | lôch | Austroasiatic | |
| Komi | кувны | kuvny | Uralic |
| Solu-Khumbu Sherpa | ཤི | shi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Pennsylvania German | schtaerewe | Indo-European | |
| Irish | faigh bás | Indo-European | |
| Western Highland Purepecha | uarhini | Tarascan | |
| Aromanian | mor | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | ùmierac | Indo-European | |
| Breton | mervel | Indo-European | |
| Zapotec | rati | Otomanguean | |
| Võro | kuulma | Uralic | |
| Faroese | doyggja | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | mate | Austronesian | |
| Chamorro | måtai | Austronesian | |
| Scottish Gaelic | bàsaich | Indo-European | |
| Southern Altai | ӧлӧр | ölör | Turkic |
| Chuukese | mano | Austronesian | |
| Sanskrit | म्रियते | mriyáte | Indo-European |
| Yaeyama | まーらしぃん | mārasïn | Japonic |
| Ternate | sone | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | сы | sɨ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | murir | Indo-European | |
| Ashkun | mře | Indo-European | |
| Chepang | सीसा | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Ladin | morir | Indo-European | |
| Hawaiian | make | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | jápmit | Uralic | |
| Kajtak | бувкьа́ра | buvq̇ára | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lamboya | mate | Austronesian | |
| Pijin | dae | Indo-European | |
| Katë | mře | Indo-European | |
| Andi | вучӏиду | vučʼidu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Evenki | буми | bumi | Tungusic |
| Drung | shi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Cherokee | ᎠᏲᎱᏍᎦ | ayohusga | Iroquoian |
| Yagnobi | мирак | mirak | Indo-European |
| Nuristani Kalasha | mře | Indo-European | |
| Northern Frisian | stärwe | Indo-European | |
| Lower Sorbian | wumrěś | Indo-European | |
| Jejueo | 죽다 | jukda | Koreanic |
| Kunigami | まーすん | māsun | Japonic |
| Rapanui | mate | Austronesian | |
| Dolgan | өл | Turkic | |
| Wutunhua | se | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Lakota | t'Á | Siouan | |
| Interlingua | morir | Artificial Language | |
| Bororo | bi | Bororoan | |
| Nanai | бурбури | burburi | Tungusic |
| Pipil | miki | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Seri | aaha | Isolates | |
| Skolt Sami | jääʹmmed | Uralic | |
| Amur Nivkh | мудь | mud̦ | Nivkh |
| Ingrian | koolla | Uralic | |
| Prussian | aulaūtwei | Indo-European | |
| Manchu | ᠪᡠᠴᡝᠮᠪᡳ | bucembi | Tungusic |
| Ainu | ライ | ray | Ainu |
| Aklanon | matay | Austronesian | |
| Atong (India) | thyi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Bamunka | kwú | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Boloki | wa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Min Bei Chinese | 死 | sǐ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Coptic | ⲙⲟⲩ | mou | Afro-Asiatic |
| Dalmatian | morer | Indo-European | |
| Nafsan | mat | Austronesian | |
| Fataluku | umu | Timor-Alor-Pantar | |
| Old Frisian | sterva | Indo-European | |
| Geez | ሞተ | motä | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gothic | 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌽𐌰𐌽 | gadauþnan | Indo-European |
| Ancient Greek | ἀποθνήσκω | apothnḗskō | Indo-European |
| Hebrew | מֵת | met | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hmong Daw | tuag | Hmong-Mien | |
| Hunsrik | sterrve | Indo-European | |
| Old Irish | at·baill | Indo-European | |
| Isoko | whu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Javanese | mati | Austronesian | |
| Kabwa | -kwa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kituba (Democratic Republic of Congo) | kufwa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Latin | morior | Indo-European | |
| Linngithigh | ighoc | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Lipo | 𖼳𖽡𖾐 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Lisu | ꓫꓵꓺ | ʃɨ̱ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Livonian | kūolõ | Uralic | |
| Lolopo | si | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Lautu | thiy | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Makasae-Makalero | umu | Timor-Alor-Pantar | |
| Makhuwa-Meetto | ukhwa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Malagasy | maty | Austronesian | |
| Malay | mati | Austronesian | |
| Medumba | kwʉ | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Miyako | まーㇲ゙さまーㇲ゙ | māzsāmaz | Japonic |
| Mpade | madɨ | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Classical Nahuatl | miqui | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Isthmus-Mecayapan Nahuatl | miqui | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Northern Puebla Nahuatl | miqui | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Northern Altai | ӧлерге | ölerge | Turkic |
| Ojibwa | nibo | Algic | |
| Church Slavic | оумирати | umirati | Indo-European |
| Old Russian | мерети | mereti | Indo-European |
| Old English | sweltan | Indo-European | |
| Old Norse | deyja | Indo-European | |
| Oromo | du'uu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Iron Ossetian | амӕлын | amælyn | Indo-European |
| Pacoh | cuchet | Austroasiatic | |
| Pali | mīyati | Indo-European | |
| Phoenician | 𐤌𐤕 | mt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Eastern Panjabi | ਮਰਨਾ | marnā | Indo-European |
| Sardinian | morre | Indo-European | |
| Savosavo | ave | Isolates | |
| Sundanese | pupus | Austronesian | |
| Tagalog | matay | Austronesian | |
| Tangut | 𗈶 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Muslim Tat | mürdən | Indo-European | |
| Tidore | sone | North Halmahera | |
| Tokharian B | naut- | Indo-European | |
| Tupinambá | manõ | Tupian | |
| Yakkha | सिमा | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Yámana | malaku | Isolates | |
| Yiddish | שטאַרבן | shtarbn | Indo-European |
| Yurok | moykek' | Algic | |
| Zande | kpi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Dimli | merden | Indo-European | |
| East Taa | ǀʻâa | Tuu |