Definition
Relating to suicide or someone considering ending their life; also used to describe something extremely dangerous or reckless.
Etymology
From 'suicide' (from Latin 'sui' meaning self + 'caedere' meaning to kill) + '-al' (adjective suffix), entered English in the 1700s.
Kelly Says
While this word has a serious medical meaning, people often use it casually ('that's suicidal!') to mean risky, which can unintentionally trivialize real mental health struggles that need compassion.
Translations
ARالعربية
انتحاري
in-ti-ha-ree
BNবাংলা
আত্মহত্যা
a-tma-hat-ya
CACatalà
suicida
soo-ee-si-da
CSČeština
samovražedný
sa-mo-vra-zhe-d-nyy
DADansk
selvmord
sel-v-mord
DEDeutsch
suizidaler
zoy-zee-da-ler
ELΕλληνικά
αυτοκτονικός
a-vto-k-to-ni-kos
ESEspañol
suicida
soo-ee-si-da
FAفارسی
خودکشی
kho-od-k-shee
FISuomi
itsemurha
i-te-se-mur-ha
FRFrançais
suicidaire
swee-si-dair
GUGU
આત્મહત્યા
aat-ma-hat-ya
HAHA
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
HIहिन्दी
आत्महत्या
a-tma-hat-ya
HUMagyar
öngyilkossági
ong-yi-lok-sa-gi
IDBahasa Indonesia
suisida
soo-ee-si-da
IGIG
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
ITItaliano
suicida
soo-ee-si-da
KKKK
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
KMKM
ប្រព្រឹត្ត
pra-p-rut
KO한국어
자살적인
ja-sal-jeo-tin
MRMR
आत्महत्या
a-tma-hat-ya
MSBahasa Melayu
suisida
soo-ee-si-da
MYမြန်မာ
အကြမ်းဖက်
a-k-yan-phek
NLNederlands
suïcidaal
sway-i-si-daal
NONorsk
selvmords
sel-v-mords
PLPolski
samobójczy
sa-mo-bo-y-ch-chi
PTPortuguês
suicida
soo-ee-si-da
RORomână
suicidar
soo-i-si-dar
RUРусский
суицидальный
soo-it-si-dal-nyy
SVSvenska
suicid
soo-i-sid
SWKiswahili
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
TAதமிழ்
தற்கொலை
thark-ko-lai
TEతెలుగు
ఆత్మహత్య
aat-ma-hat-ya
THไทย
ฆ่าตัวตาย
khaa-tua-tai
TLTL
suisida
soo-ee-si-da
TRTürkçe
suisidal
soo-i-si-dal
UKУкраїнська
суїцидальний
soo-it-si-dal-nyy
URاردو
خودکشی
kho-od-k-shee
VITiếng Việt
tự sát
tu-sat
YOYO
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
ZUZU
suicidal
soo-i-si-dal
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Suicide ideation is discussed clinically with gender-neutral language, but cultural stigma disproportionately affects how men's vs. women's suicidal crises are perceived and treated. Language matters in mental health contexts where gender bias affects both diagnosis and intervention.
Inclusive Usage
Use only in clinical/serious contexts. Avoid as hyperbole ('I'm suicidal over this deadline'). Pair with mental health resources when discussing.
Inclusive Alternatives
["in crisis","experiencing suicidal ideation","mentally distressed"]