Death

The basic verb die is applied to human beings, other animals, birds, fish, and insects, but not to trees and plants. There is also a verb meaning for several to die in one event. This may be used for as few deaths as three and is used when the deaths are considered part of a single event, even when, as in the case of an epidemic, the deaths are spread out over a considerable period of time.

Death due to certain causes are described by forms of “to kill” rather than forms of “to die”. starve to death, for example, literally means “for starvation to kill someone”. Similarly, drown is literally “for water to kill someone”, and bleed to death is literally “for blood to kill someone”. freeze to death, become benumbed by cold is different still, being a form of “feel cold”, and beat him to death is a form of “to beat”.

There are several equivalents to “the late” as an indication that the person mentioned is no longer living: inle', uzdani', and hoolil. The first two are common, the last less so.

In contrast to English, “live” in the sense of be alive is distinct from “live” in the sense of dwell, live, reside.

There are both a verb come back to life, revive and an expression come back to life which is literally “become again a person”.

Essay List