Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mann | /man/ | masculine |
| mo | ||
| må | ||
| môô | ||
| Herr | /hɛr/ | masculine |
| Maa | Alemannic German, masculine |
Mann refers to an adult male human. It can also be used as an interjection to express surprise, frustration or emphasis, similar to how English speakers use "Man!" or "Boy!" Additionally, the related verb bemannen means to supply with staff or crew.
Which one should you use?
While Mann refers to a male human, Herr is used as a formal way to address a man or to refer to him as "gentleman" or "Mr.".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-German, the form Maa is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Mann is Männer. In the genitive case to indicate possession, Mann becomes des Mannes. When using the word 'man,' it is often followed by the verb in the third person singular form, such as in Man darf nicht vergessen.
How do you pronounce it?
/man/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Herr to mean "man" in a general sense. Herr is specifically a title of respect or a way to address someone formally.
Did you know?
- In German, the word Mann can specifically mean 'husband' in a domestic context, even without using the word for 'marriage'.
- The formal title Herr is etymologically linked to the word 'grey', originating from an Old Germanic word for 'grey-haired' or 'venerable'.
- The German word Feuerwehrmann refers to a firefighter, but modern German administration increasingly uses the term Feuerwehrleute to be gender-neutral.
Examples in context
- Wo ist der Mann?Where is the man?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a Mann.Tatoeba #10051306 by wolfgangth, translation #2255820 by reva12
- Der Mann ist alt.The man is old.This sentence is useful for describing a Mann.Tatoeba #1176696 by Esperantostern, translation #1174867 by CK
- Das ist ein Mann.This is a man.This sentence is useful for identifying a Mann.Tatoeba #1898893 by Esperantostern, translation #4454068 by katherine425
- Wenn ein Mann Deutsch lernen möchte, kann er verschiedene Ressourcen nutzen.If a man wants to learn German, he can utilize various resources.
- Wenn man Deutsch lernen möchte, kann man verschiedene Ressourcen nutzen.If you want to learn German, you can utilize various resources.
- Wenn einer Deutsch lernen möchte, kann er verschiedene Ressourcen nutzen.If someone wants to learn German, they can utilize various resources.
- 2120 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are looking at a photo.
- JulianWer ist dieser Mann auf dem Foto?Who is this man in the photo?
- JuliaDas ist ein alter Mann aus dem Dorf.That is an old man from the village.
- JulianSieht er nicht sehr freundlich aus?Doesn't he look very friendly?
- JuliaJa, der Mann wirkt sehr nett.Yes, the man seems very nice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “man” translations and entries Mann, Herr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Herr, Mann, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
