verb
to die, to pass away
A2
sterben means 'to die' or 'to pass away'. It is an irregular strong verb (stem change e→i: du stirbst, er stirbt; Präteritum starb; Partizip II gestorben) and uses auxiliary sein in perfect tenses: ich bin gestorben. Non‑reflexive; passive is not applicable for its intransitive meaning.
Examples
Viele Menschen sind an der Krankheit gestorben.
Many people died from the disease.
Sein Großvater starb letztes Jahr.
His grandfather died last year.
Der alte Baum ist letzten Winter gestorben.
The old tree died last winter.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a candle going out to remember 'sterben' = die
sounds like 'stir-ben' — think 'stir' as stop moving
Notes
Strong irregular verb with stem changes (du stirbst, er stirbt; Präteritum ich starb; Partizip II: gestorben). Perfect tenses use 'sein' as auxiliary. | Intransitive verb; passive forms are not applicable.