The German verb "sterben" means "to die" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "sterben" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sterbe |
| du | you (informal) | stirbst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | stirbt |
| wir | we | sterben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sterbt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sterben |
Er stirbt fast vor Lachen.
He is dying of laughter.
How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | starb |
| du | you (informal) | starbst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | starb |
| wir | we | starben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | starbt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | starben |
Er starb im hohen Alter in Berlin.
He died at an old age in Berlin.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | bin gestorben |
| du | you (informal) | bist gestorben |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | ist gestorben |
| wir | we | sind gestorben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seid gestorben |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sind gestorben |
Er ist im hohen Alter gestorben.
He died at an old age.
How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | war gestorben |
| du | you (informal) | warst gestorben |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | war gestorben |
| wir | we | waren gestorben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wart gestorben |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | waren gestorben |
Er war an einer Krankheit gestorben.
He had died of an illness.
How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde sterben |
| du | you (informal) | wirst sterben |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird sterben |
| wir | we | werden sterben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet sterben |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden sterben |
Er wird ohne Hilfe sterben.
He will die without help.
How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sterbe |
| du | you (informal) | sterbest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sterbe |
| wir | we | sterben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sterbet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sterben |
Man sagt, er sterbe im Schlaf.
They say he is dying in his sleep.
How to Conjugate "sterben" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | stürbe |
| du | you (informal) | stürbest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | stürbe |
| wir | we | stürben |
| ihr | you all (informal) | stürbet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | stürben |
Er stürbe fast vor großer Langeweile.
He would almost die of great boredom.
Frequently Asked Questions About "sterben"
Is "sterben" regular or irregular in German?
"Sterben" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "sterben" mean in English?
The German verb "sterben" means "to die" in English.
How do you conjugate "sterben" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → sterbe, du → stirbst, er/sie/es → stirbt, wir → sterben, ihr → sterbt, sie/Sie → sterben.
How many tenses does "sterben" have in German?
"Sterben" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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