hr.
/hɛr/
The Danish word for "mister" is hr.
Hr. is a title used for an adult male, typically used in formal writing or when addressing someone formally by their last name, such as Hr. Jensen.
Meaning: title of adult male (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The abbreviation hr. is derived from the full word herre, which means "lord" or "gentleman".
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English "Mr.", the Danish hr. is an abbreviation and is typically written with a period. While the root word herre exists, it is not used as a direct title before a name in modern spoken Danish.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Danish, hr. is almost always followed by a surname rather than a first name.
How do you pronounce it?
/hɛr/
Did you know?
- The abbreviation hr. follows a common Danish pattern where titles are shortened when they appear before a word that carries the main stress. For example, the word for 'King' became kong when used as a title.
- The feminine counterpart to hr. is fru, which is a shortened version of the word frue, meaning 'lady'.
- The concept of 'herre' implies a sense of ownership or mastery, similar to how 'lord' is used in historical English, reflecting a time when social hierarchies were more rigid.
Examples in context
- Hr. JensenMr. Jensen
- Hr. AndersenMr. Andersen
- Hr. Jensen er meget venlig.Mr. Jensen is very kind.
- Kan jeg tale med Hr. Nielsen?Can I speak with Mr. Nielsen?
- Hr. Hansen venter i receptionen.Mr. Hansen is waiting in the reception.
Example conversation
Mette is working at a front desk and Noah is a visitor.
- NoahGoddag, er Hr. Nielsen her?Hello, is Mr. Nielsen here?
- MetteJa, han sidder i mødelokalet.Yes, he is sitting in the meeting room.
- NoahTak, jeg går hen til ham.Thank you, I will go to him.
- MetteSelv tak, god dag til dig.You're welcome, have a good day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hr., CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hr., CC BY-SA 4.0.
