man
/mɑn/masculine
The English word 'man' is translated into Dutch as man. If unsure, use man. Wiktionary also lists heer.
Meaning: adult male human (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| man | /mɑn/ | masculine |
| heer | /ɦeːr/ | masculine |
The word man refers to an adult male. Other related terms include the verb bemannen, which means to supply with staff or crew and the name de mens, which refers to the genus Homo.
Which one should you use?
While man refers to an adult male, heer is a more formal or respectful way to refer to a man, similar to 'gentleman'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of man is mannen.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɑn/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use man to mean 'humanity' or 'mankind'. However, in Dutch, you must use de mens for that meaning.
Did you know?
- The word heer can also mean 'army' or 'host' in a historical context, though it is spelled the same.
- Because man often means 'husband', the phrase mijn man is the standard way to say 'my husband'.
- Using heer today is primarily reserved for very formal addresses or religious contexts, such as referring to God.
Examples in context
- De man is oud.The man is old.This sentence shows the use of man to describe age.Tatoeba #7327967 by MarijnKp, translation #1174867 by CK
- Ik zag de man.I saw the man.This sentence demonstrates seeing the man.Tatoeba #12508039 by Tom9358, translation #3858721 by Evie
- Ken je de man?Are you acquainted with the man?This sentence is used to ask if someone is acquainted with the man.Tatoeba #13016174 by PaulP, translation #68150 by shekitten
- Meneer JansenMr. Jansen
- Hé kerel, hoe gaat het?Hey dude, how are you?
- 558 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Emma are looking at a photo of a crowd.
- LeviZie je die man op de foto?Do you see that man in the photo?
- EmmaNee, ik zie de man niet.No, I don't see the man.
- LeviHij staat daar bij de boom.He is standing there by the tree.
- EmmaOh ja, ik zie hem nu.Oh yes, I see him now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “man” translations and entries man, heer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries heer, man, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
