pastor alemán
/pasˌtoɾ aleˈman/masculine
In Spanish, the term for German Shepherd is pastor alemán.
The phrase refers to the specific breed of dog. If you need to mention the breed itself, you would use the word raza.
Meaning: breed of dog (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a literal translation where pastor means shepherd and alemán means German.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the alternative term Perro Ovejero Alemán is used to refer to a German Shepherd.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female dog, change the noun to the feminine pastora and the adjective to alemana. To express the plural, use pastores alemanes, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized.
How do you pronounce it?
/pasˌtoɾ aleˈman/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid omitting the accent on the final 'a' in alemán. Writing it as pastor aleman is a misspelling.
Did you know?
- The term alemán is derived from the Proto-Germanic words for 'all' and 'man', originally referring to a confederation of tribes known as the Alamanni.
- In Spanish, the word pastor serves a double purpose, referring to both a sheep shepherd and a church leader.
- The term pastor describes the dog's professional function as a worker rather than its physical traits.
Examples in context
- Rex es un pastor alemán.Rex is a German Shepherd.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific dog using the form pastor alemán.Tatoeba #10024972 by manufrutos, translation #10021634 by shekitten
- El Pastor Alemán es una raza de perro muy inteligente y leal.The German Shepherd is a very intelligent and loyal dog breed.
- El Pastor Alemán es una de las razas más utilizadas en tareas de K-9 en todo el mundo.The German Shepherd is one of the most widely used breeds in K-9 tasks worldwide.
- El Pastor Alemán es conocido por su facilidad de aprendizaje y su capacidad para seguir órdenes.The German Shepherd is known for its ease of learning and ability to follow commands.
- El pastor alemán es muy inteligente.The german shepherd is very intelligent.
- Necesito un pastor alemán para la guardia.I need a german shepherd for guarding.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are at a park looking at dogs.
- Elena¿Mira ese perro! ¿Es un pastor alemán?Look at that dog! Is it a German shepherd?
- MateoSí, es un pastor alemán muy grande.Yes, it is a very large German shepherd.
- ElenaParece muy inteligente y tranquilo.He looks very intelligent and calm.
- MateoSí, son perros muy leales.Yes, they are very loyal dogs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “german shepherd” translations and entries pastor alemán, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alemán, pastor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
