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décès
/de.se/
death
Le décès de son père l'a profondément affecté.
The death of his father deeply affected him.
formal
the act or fact of dying; the end of a person's life
Le décès de la reine a été annoncé hier soir.
The death of the queen was announced last night.
Used mainly in formal, legal, or medical contexts; everyday speech often prefers 'mort'.
Collocations
un décès prématurépremature deathen cas de décèsin case of death
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. informal
Use 'décès' in official documents, news reports, or legal language. Use 'mort' in everyday conversation.
Word Origin
From Latin 'decessus', past participle of 'decedere' meaning 'to depart, to die'.
Usage Notes
Commonly preceded by the definite article 'le' (le décès). In informal contexts, 'mort' is more frequent.
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais