While it might seem like a somber topic, understanding how a language approaches the subject of death offers a unique window into its culture and emotional landscape.

The French language is full of expressions for 'to die,' ranging from the deeply respectful to the surprisingly informal and even humorous. Knowing these different phrases will not only enrich your vocabulary but also help you navigate conversations and understand French media with greater subtlety.

Let's delve into nine common and interesting ways to talk about passing on in French.

The standard 'to die' – mourir

The most common, direct, and standard way to say 'to die' in French is with the verb mourir.

Mourir is the direct equivalent of 'to die'. It's used for the literal death of people, animals, and plants. It is a straightforward term used in nearly all contexts, from news reports and historical accounts to everyday conversation.

Be aware that mourir is an important irregular verb, so its conjugation doesn't follow standard patterns. For example, in the present tense, it's je meurs, tu meurs, il/elle meurt. Its past participle is mort.

A crucial grammatical rule for mourir is that it uses the auxiliary verb être in the passé composé (and other compound tenses), not avoir. This means you'll say il est mort (he died/he is dead) and elle est morte (she died/she is dead). Notice that the past participle mort must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Like in English, mourir is frequently used in figurative expressions to show exaggeration. You don't have to be literally dying to use it. Common examples include:

Mourir de faim: to be starving (literally, 'to die of hunger')
Mourir de soif: to be dying of thirst
Mourir de rire: to die of laughter
Mourir d'envie de: to be dying to do something

Because il est mort can mean both 'he died' and 'he is dead', context is essential. Il est mort en 1990 clearly means 'He died in 1990', whereas a doctor stating Il est mort after checking a pulse means 'He is dead'.

💡 * Son grand-père est mort l'année dernière. (His grandfather died last year.)

J'ai tellement ri que j'ai cru que j'allais mourir. (I laughed so hard I thought I was going to die.)

Les plantes meurent si on ne les arrose pas. (Plants die if you don't water them.)

Je meurs d'envie de voir ce nouveau film. (I'm dying to see this new movie.)

The formal 'to pass away' – décéder

When discussing death in French, the verb décéder is the formal equivalent of 'to pass away' or 'to be deceased.' It carries a more official, respectful, and less direct tone than the common verb mourir (to die).

You will most often encounter décéder in formal and administrative settings. It is the standard term used in news reports, obituaries, legal documents (like death certificates), and official announcements. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation.

The key difference lies in the register. While mourir is the neutral, all-purpose verb for 'to die' used among friends and family, décéder adds a layer of formality and emotional distance. Think of it as the difference between saying someone 'died' versus someone 'passed away' or is 'deceased'.

Related to the verb is the noun le décès, which means 'the death,' 'the passing,' or 'the demise.' Like the verb, it is used in formal contexts. For example, an official document is called an 'acte de décès' ('death certificate').

The past participle, décédé(e), is frequently used as an adjective meaning 'deceased' or 'dead.' For instance, you might read about 'la personne décédée' ('the deceased person') in a police report or legal context.

💡 * L'écrivain est décédé à l'âge de 90 ans.

Nous avons le regret de vous annoncer que notre grand-père est décédé la nuit dernière.

La date du décès est indiquée sur l'acte officiel.

Il est décédé des suites d'une longue maladie.

The poetic 'to fade away' – s'éteindre

The verb s'éteindre literally means "to go out" or "to be extinguished." It is most commonly used when talking about a light, a fire, or a candle that stops burning on its own.

Metaphorically, s'éteindre takes on a more poetic and gentle meaning. It is frequently used as a euphemism for "to pass away" or "to die," suggesting a life fading out peacefully like a candle flame. It can also describe a sound, a hope, or even a dynasty slowly disappearing.

Remember that s'éteindre is a reflexive verb, so it always needs a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). It is also an irregular verb, following the conjugation pattern of other verbs ending in -eindre like peindre (to paint). For example, in the present tense: la lumière s'éteint (the light goes out).

The tone of s'éteindre is elevated, literary, and soft. While mourir (to die) is direct and used in most everyday contexts, s'éteindre is reserved for describing a peaceful end, often used in literature, formal announcements, or when speaking with great sensitivity.

💡 * La bougie s'est éteinte d'un coup.

Après une longue vie, elle s'est éteinte paisiblement dans son sommeil.

Le bruit de la ville s'éteint peu à peu à la tombée de la nuit.

L'enthousiasme du début s'est vite éteint.

The literary 'to give up the ghost' – rendre l'âme

The French expression rendre l'âme literally translates to “to return the soul.” This phrasing immediately establishes a formal, poetic, and somewhat solemn tone, moving beyond a simple clinical description of death.

In practice, rendre l'âme is the direct equivalent of the English idiom “to give up the ghost.” It means “to die” or “to pass away,” but it is used in a literary or elevated context to describe the final moments of life with a sense of gravity.

This expression is rarely used in everyday, casual conversation. You are most likely to encounter it in novels, historical accounts, poetry, or formal eulogies. It is reserved for situations where a more profound or dramatic description of death is appropriate.

Just like in English, rendre l'âme can be humorously or figuratively applied to an inanimate object that has permanently stopped working. An old car, a worn-out appliance, or a computer can all “give up the ghost” when they break down for the last time.

💡 * Après une longue maladie, le vieux roi a rendu l'âme.

Mon grille-pain a finalement rendu l'âme ce matin.

Le soldat blessé rendit l'âme sur le champ de bataille.

On sentait que le vieil arbre allait bientôt rendre l'âme.

The Idiomatic 'To Kick the Bucket': Passer l'arme à gauche

The French expression passer l'arme à gauche literally translates to 'to pass the weapon to the left.' This vivid imagery points to a military origin and is a classic example of how French idioms use concrete actions to describe abstract concepts.

In modern French, passer l'arme à gauche is a colloquial and euphemistic way to say 'to die' or 'to kick the bucket.' It's an informal phrase used to talk about death without being overly direct or somber.

The phrase originates from military tradition. In battle, a soldier held their shield with the left arm and their weapon (l'arme) with the right. When a soldier died, their weapon would fall or be passed to their left side, signifying they were no longer able to fight. The left side has also historically been associated with misfortune, adding to the idiom's meaning.

This is a very informal expression. It's appropriate for casual conversations among friends or when telling a story, but it would be considered insensitive or inappropriate in a formal context, such as a funeral or when offering condolences.

The verb in the expression is passer, which conjugates like a regular '-er' verb. For past tense, it uses the auxiliary verb avoir. For example: Il a passé l'arme à gauche (He kicked the bucket).

💡 * Le vieux chat de la voisine a passé l'arme à gauche la semaine dernière. (The neighbor's old cat kicked the bucket last week.)

J'ai bien cru que j'allais passer l'arme à gauche quand j'ai vu l'araignée. (I really thought I was going to die when I saw the spider.)

Dans le film, le héros passe l'arme à gauche à la toute fin. (In the movie, the hero kicks the bucket at the very end.)

Si je mange encore un gâteau, je vais passer l'arme à gauche. (If I eat one more cake, I'm going to die.)

The informal 'to bite the dust' – casser sa pipe

The informal 'to bite the dust' – casser sa pipe

Literally translating to “to break one's pipe,” casser sa pipe is a very common and informal French idiom for “to die.” It’s the equivalent of English expressions like “to kick the bucket,” “to bite the dust,” or “to croak.” It's a euphemistic and somewhat dated way to talk about death in a casual context.

The origin of this phrase is believed to date back to the Napoleonic wars. During battlefield surgeries without anesthesia, soldiers were sometimes given a pipe to bite down on to endure the pain. If the soldier died during the procedure, their jaw would go slack, and the pipe would fall and break. Thus, casser sa pipe became a euphemism for dying.

While it's widely understood, casser sa pipe is definitely informal. You would use it among friends or in a casual conversation, but it would be inappropriate in a formal setting or when expressing sincere condolences. It can refer to people, and sometimes humorously to objects that have stopped working permanently, like an old car or computer.

💡 * Après une longue maladie, le grand-père a cassé sa pipe la semaine dernière.

J'espère ne pas casser ma pipe avant d'avoir vu le monde.

Mon vieil ordinateur a finalement cassé sa pipe, je ne peux plus l'allumer.

On a tous cru qu'il allait casser sa pipe après cet accident, mais il a survécu.

The colloquial 'to go' – y passer

In conversational French, you'll often hear the expression y passer used as a colloquial alternative to aller (to go). It's a handy phrase that implies making a quick stop or a brief visit to a place that has already been mentioned.

Literally translating to 'to pass there,' the expression y passer is used when the location is known from the context. The pronoun y replaces the place, so you don't need to repeat it. It perfectly conveys the idea of 'dropping by' or 'swinging by' somewhere.

This phrase is most common in informal, spoken French. For example, if a friend says, 'J'ai besoin du livre à la bibliothèque' (I need the book at the library), you could reply, Je peux y passer pour toi (I can stop by there for you).

💡 * Le bureau de poste est sur ton chemin, tu peux y passer en rentrant ? (The post office is on your way, can you stop by on your way home?)

J'ai oublié mon portefeuille chez toi, je vais y passer demain. (I forgot my wallet at your place, I'll swing by tomorrow.)

La nouvelle boulangerie a l'air super, il faut qu'on y passe. (The new bakery looks great, we have to go there.)

The euphemistic 'to disappear' – disparaître

The verb disparaître literally means “to disappear” or “to vanish.” However, it is also frequently used as a gentle and respectful euphemism for “to die” or “to pass away.”

Similar to “to pass on” in English, using disparaître is a softer, more indirect way to speak about death. It avoids the directness of the verb mourir (to die) and is common in formal announcements, news reports, or when discussing a loss sensitively.

In the passé composé (the most common past tense for this context), disparaître conjugates with the auxiliary verb avoir. For instance, “Il a disparu l'année dernière” translates to “He passed away last year.” This construction emphasizes the event of their passing.

💡 * L'écrivain célèbre a disparu à l'âge de 80 ans. (The famous writer passed away at the age of 80.)

Elle a disparu paisiblement dans son sommeil. (She passed away peacefully in her sleep.)

Nous avons appris avec tristesse qu'il a disparu subitement. (We were sad to learn that he passed away suddenly.)

1. Quitter ce monde: The Gentle Departure

The French phrase quitter ce monde literally translates to 'to leave this world.' It serves as a gentle, poetic, and often euphemistic way to say 'to die.' Unlike the more direct verb mourir (to die), quitter ce monde carries a softer, more serene connotation, suggesting a peaceful transition rather than an abrupt end.

This expression is primarily reserved for more formal, literary, or solemn contexts. You are most likely to encounter it in literature, eulogies, obituaries, or when discussing death in a sensitive and respectful manner. It is not typically used in casual, everyday conversation.

The verb at the heart of the phrase, quitter, is a regular -er verb, making it easy to conjugate. In the common past tense (passé composé), it becomes il a quitté (he left) or elle a quitté (she left). This simplicity allows learners to use the phrase accurately in different tenses without memorizing irregular forms.

While mourir is the standard verb for 'to die,' it can sometimes sound blunt or clinical. Choosing quitter ce monde instead adds a layer of emotional softness and respect. It focuses on the idea of a soul's journey or departure, which can be more comforting for both the speaker and the listener.

💡 * Après une longue maladie, l'écrivain a quitté ce monde. (After a long illness, the writer left this world.)

Elle a quitté ce monde en laissant un grand vide derrière elle. (She left this world, leaving a great void behind her.)

On dit qu'il a quitté ce monde paisiblement dans son sommeil. (It is said he left this world peacefully in his sleep.)

Le vieux poète a quitté ce monde, mais ses œuvres restent immortelles. (The old poet has left this world, but his works remain immortal.)

Are there other ways to say 'to die' in French?

Our list covers the most common and essential ways to say 'to die' in French, from the neutral mourir to the formal décéder. However, the French language, rich in literary and historical depth, offers many other expressions, including poetic euphemisms, historical terms, and raw slang.

Given the sensitive nature of the topic, context is everything. Using a very informal term like crever in a formal situation would be highly inappropriate. When in doubt, sticking to neutral or respectful terms is always the best course of action.

You can expand your vocabulary by looking up synonyms for mourir online. As you discover new words, always check their register (registre) in a dictionary—whether they are marked as littéraire (literary), familier (informal), or argot (slang)—to understand their proper use.

Pay close attention when you read French literature or watch historical films. You'll begin to notice how different eras and social contexts call for different ways of talking about death, which is a fascinating window into the culture itself.

For a comprehensive look at the nuances, idioms, and related vocabulary, the Larousse dictionary entry for mourir is an excellent resource. It provides numerous examples that can help clarify the subtle differences between each term.

I hope this article has been a helpful guide. Let's end with a thoughtful quote from French playwright Molière: Nous ne sommes pas responsables de ce que nous sommes, mais de ce que nous faisons. Et la mort est la fin de tout cela. (We are not responsible for what we are, but for what we do. And death is the end of all that.)

'9 ways to say "to die" in French'