Herzog
/ˈhɛrˌtsoːk/
The English word 'duke' is translated into German as Herzog.
Herzog is a noun used to refer to a male holder of a dukedom.
Meaning: male holder of a dukedom (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Herzog is composed of Herz (army or host) and og (derived from zag/igen, meaning to lead or move), literally translating to 'army leader'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Herzog is Herzöge. While the noun is Herzog in the nominative case, in modern German the word remains Herzog in the accusative and dative cases, though you may encounter the form Herzogen in certain specific or archaic grammatical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɛrˌtsoːk/
Did you know?
- The word Herzog is a 'calque' of the Ancient Greek word stratēgós, meaning 'army leader'. This means the German word was created by translating the Greek components literally into Germanic roots.
- The root for 'leading' in Herzog is related to the word ziehen, which means 'to pull' or 'to draw' in modern German.
- In the Holy Roman Empire, the rank of Herzog was often tied to 'stem duchies', which were territories based on ancient tribal groupings rather than just royal grants.
Examples in context
- Der Herzog besitzt viel Land.The duke holds a lot of land.This sentence shows Herzog used in the context of land ownership.Tatoeba #501402 by al_ex_an_der, translation #48015 by CK
- Der Herzog trug einen weißen Umhang.The Duke wore a white cloak.This sentence shows Herzog used in the context of clothing.Tatoeba #11583512 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7813154 by Hybrid
- Vergiftete Kirschen bringen einen Herzog um.A poisoned cherry may kill a duke.This sentence shows Herzog used in the context of a fatal event.Tatoeba #2025168 by Esperantostern, translation #2027776 by halfb1t
- Der Herzog wird morgen an der Zeremonie teilnehmen.The duke will attend the ceremony tomorrow.
- Der Herzog von Sachsen sendete eine Nachricht an den König.The Duke of Saxony sent a message to the king.
- Kannst du dir vorstellen, ein Herzog zu sein?Can you imagine being a duke?
- Der neue Herzog ist ein Mann von großer Tapferkeit.The new duke is a man of great bravery.
- Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich einem Herzog begegnen würdeI never thought I would meet a duke
- Der Herzog von Bayern regierte im 18. JahrhundertThe Duke of Bavaria ruled in the 18th century
- der königliche HerzogThe royal duke
- der mächtige HerzogThe powerful duke
- der HerzogspalastThe duke's palace
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical novel in a library.
- JuliaHast du das Buch über den Herzog gelesen?Have you read the book about the duke?
- JulianJa, der Herzog war ein interessanter Mann.Yes, the duke was an interesting man.
- JuliaJulian, findest du ihn auch so tapfer?Julian, do you also find him so brave?
- JulianJa, er war ein sehr mutiger Held.Yes, he was a very brave hero.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Herzog, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Herzog, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
