German word

Nachruf

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnaːxˌʁuːf/

Meaning

  • masculine nounobituary

Example

Zum Tod des Lehrers schrieb die Gemeinde einen Nachruf.

After the teacher's death, the community wrote an obituary.

Illustration for Nachruf (obituary)

More examples

Im Nachruf würdigte die Redaktion das Lebenswerk des Schriftstellers.

In the obituary, the editorial staff honored the writer's life's work.

Core concept

A memorial portrait in words, presenting a dead person's life and achievements with respect.

Common phrases

  • einen Nachruf in der Zeitung

    an obituary in the newspaper

  • im Nachruf

    in the obituary

  • einen kurzen Nachruf verfassen

    draft a short obituary

Similar words

Todesanzeige: A brief newspaper announcement of a death, with funeral time and place.
Traueranzeige: A newspaper death announcement including condolences from relatives and the chief mourner's name.
Gedenkrede: A memorial speech recalling a dead person's life and accomplishments.
Nekrolog: A short press article summarizing a dead person's life and accomplishments.

Definition in German

Ein kurzer Text, der das Leben und die Verdienste eines Verstorbenen zusammenfasst und ihm Respekt erweist.

Word origin

Nachruf combines nach, meaning "after," with Ruf, a Germanic noun for a call or reputation, and originally referred to a statement made after someone's death.

Usage tips

  • Nachruf is masculine, with the plural Nachrufe, and commonly occurs with schreiben for a written tribute.

Other meanings

  • eulogynoun

Word lists with this word