They passed away. Rest in peace. The dearly departed.
Use of the term “unalive” is the latest euphemism for death making the rounds on social media. It got us thinking about all of the various terms there are used for death, dying and being dead. We’ve literally heard it all, but new phrases seem to come about all the time.
If you talk to a linguistic anthropologist they’ll tell you that how we refer to death is extremely impactful and says a lot about the person as well as the culture they live in. And as much as people hate talking about death, we certainly have a lot of ways to express our thoughts about it.
If you’ve ever wondered why we refer to death in certain ways and how certain terms came to be, this post will explain it all – and you may be very surprised to find out why “unalive” is being used today.
The Language of Death: A Reflection of How We Handle the Idea of Dying
Death is a part of life that people take very seriously. The language we use around it is very meaningful and speaks to our culture as a whole.
In America, we clearly have a way of softening death with the way we speak about it. But there’s a flipside. We also speak about death in ways that make light of the situation. Because it is such an emotionally charged topic, rarely are the phrases moderate. We either use humor to diffuse the situation or we put a positive spin on it to ease the loss.
The vernacular used for death also tells the story of how we dispose of the dead. Take the term, “pushing up daisies” for example. It’s a reference to the fact that burial used to be the norm in the U.S.. Once buried, plantlife would then grow over the burial site and the body would help push the vegetation up to the surface. Ironically, the term is now even more appropriate for natural organic reduction.
Part of the Overall Modernization of Death Care
How we refer to death and the state of being dead is a reflection of the death care industry as a whole and people’s feelings about it. The fact that “unalive” is being said rather than “dead” isn’t too surprising when you consider the death positive movement that’s been taking place recently.
The term unalive does sound better than dead. Of course, undead has a completely different meaning that has been shaped by pop culture and hit shows like The Walking Dead.
However, there’s a whole other reason why “unalive” is being used on social media, which is also another indicator of how death is becoming modernized. People are using “unalive” in place of “homicide”, “murder” and “suicide” in order to circumvent censors that may remove the post. It’s a very interesting example of how the discussion around death is now being shaped by algorithms in addition to people.
Where Different Death Euphemisms Come From
Rest in Peace
Rest in peace is one of the longest running euphemisms for death in history. It dates back to at least the 5th Century and is rooted in Latin. The Latin term is requiescat in pace. Rest in Peace is commonly seen on gravestones or the shortened variation RIP. The general meaning is that hopefully the individual who died will find eternal peace in the afterlife.
Passed Away
This is actually one of the oldest terms for death in the English language. The use of “passed away” was first used in the 15th Century. It’s considered a less upsetting way to say someone died. Another explanation for the origination of the term is that people in the 1400s considered that at death a person’s soul physically passed on to the afterlife.
Kicked the Bucket
This is one of the more random euphemisms for death that doesn’t seem to make much sense although everyone says it. How the phrase originated is actually a little gruesome. Back in the day before slaughter, animals were hung by their feet in a frame called a bucket. While hanging the animal would thrash about and kick the bucket. The term showed up in Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue in 1785.
Six Feet Under
This phrase clearly refers to the way caskets are buried – usually six feet under the ground. It’s referencing the fact that the body of the deceased is now six feet under the living. The term also became extremely well known in the early 2000s because of the hit HBO series Six Feet Under about a family that operates a funeral home.
Bought the Farm
Saying “bought the farm” to refer to death is one of the more vague terms. Unlike other euphemisms, this one doesn’t describe what happens to the dead. The phrase was used by American military members in WWII to refer to their death providing benefits for their family that would be enough to pay off the mortgage and buy the family farm.
Dearly Departed
People have been using the phrase “dearly departed” since the 1500s. It is meant to show warm regard for the deceased who has departed, or left, this earth.
Bite the Dust
This is another term that makes light of death. It became popular in the U.S. in the early 20th Century with the rise of Western movies. Makes sense given all the shootouts on dusty roads. But the first known use of the phrase bite the dust was in 1748, and it does refer to an opponent being defeated and dying. While it’s more of a reference to a person hitting the ground upon death, there’s also the connection to the Christian phrase “dust to dust” meaning that we all return to the earth.
Gave Up the Ghost
Some death terms are more bleak, and this is one of them. When someone says a person “gave up the ghost” it in essence means they stopped fighting to stay alive and accepted death.
At Cremation.Green we’re always respectful and clear when we communicate with families about funeral services. We provide big hearted care that will help put you at ease no matter how comfortable you are with talking about death.
We’re available to talk anytime by phone or you can text us as well.
