Hering
/ˈheːʁɪŋ/masculine
The German word for "herring" is Hering.
Hering refers to fish in Clupea (noun). It is a masculine noun.
Meaning: fish in Clupea (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Germany, you may encounter the term Bückling, which refers specifically to a whole smoked herring.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈheːʁɪŋ/
Did you know?
- While Hering describes the fish, it is also the standard German word for a 'tent peg' used in camping.
- The term Hering may not have a standard Germanic root but instead comes from a 'substrate language' spoken before Germanic languages were established.
Examples in context
- Er verzehrte einen Heringssalat.He ate a herring salad.This sentence shows how to use the form Hering in the context of a salad.Tatoeba #2034436 by al_ex_an_der, translation #4128339 by AlanF_US
- An Fisch isst Tom nur eingelegten Hering.Tom doesn't eat any fish other than pickled herring.This sentence demonstrates using the form Hering to describe a specific type of prepared fish.Tatoeba #10290010 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10288424 by ddnktr
- Heringssalat schmeckt mir nicht.Herring salad does not taste good to me.This sentence uses the form Hering to express a preference regarding a salad.Tatoeba #6171702 by raggione, translation #6171740 by carlosalberto
- Guten Tag! Kann ich bitte einen Matjes haben?Good day! Can I have a Matjes, please?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are looking at a fish menu.
- MaximilianMöchtest du heute einen Hering probieren?Would you like to try a herring today?
- LauraNein, ich mag keinen Hering.No, I don't like herring.
- MaximilianAber dieser Hering ist sehr frisch.But this herring is very fresh.
- LauraIch nehme lieber Lachs, Maximilian.I'll take salmon instead, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “herring” translations and entries Hering, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hering, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
