German word

Selbstmord

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzɛlpstˌmɔɐ̯t/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsuicide

Example

In den Nachrichten wurden mehrere Selbstmorde gemeldet.

Several suicides were reported in the news.

Illustration for Selbstmord (suicide)

More examples

Es ist wichtig, offen über Selbstmord zu sprechen.

It is important to talk openly about suicide.

Core concept

A life ends through a person's own deliberate action rather than through an outside killer.

Common phrases

  • Selbstmord begehen

    commit suicide

  • über Selbstmord sprechen

    talk about suicide

  • Selbstmord verhindern

    prevent suicide

Similar words

Suizid: A clinical or news term for deliberately ending one's own life.
Selbsttötung: A formal term for deliberately ending one's own life in official or specialist writing.
Freitod: A poetic or old-fashioned expression for deliberately ending one's own life.

Definition in German

Die vorsätzliche Selbsttötung einer Person.

Word origin

German formed Selbstmord from selbst, "self," and Mord, "murder," creating a transparent compound for killing oneself.

Usage tips

  • The direct word Selbstmord can sound stark, so Suizid or sich das Leben nehmen may be chosen in more sensitive contexts.

Opposites

  • Lebenswillewill to livenoun
  • Überlebenswillewill to survivenoun

Related words

  • Selbstmordversuchsuicide attemptnoun
  • Selbstmörderperson who commits suicidenoun
  • selbstmörderischsuicidaladjective

Word lists with this word