Herr
/hɛr/masculine
The German word for "mister" is Herr.
Herr is used to address an adult male. In formal settings, it is standard to use Herr followed by a surname, such as Herr Poppins. Additionally, if a person holds an academic title, you should include it after the word, for example, Herr Professor or Herr Doktor followed by their last name.
Meaning: title of adult male (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the English "Mr." is almost exclusively used with a surname, the German Herr can also function as a standalone noun meaning "master" or "lord" in certain specific contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The base form Herr is the nominative singular. When the word is used as a direct object or follows certain prepositions, it changes to the form Herrn. The plural form of the noun is Herren.
How do you pronounce it?
/hɛr/
Did you know?
- The word Herr is actually a distant relative of the English word 'hoar', describing someone with 'grey' hair. It stems from an ancient root referring to the 'grey-haired' or 'venerable' elders of a tribe.
- The German verb for ruling or governing, herrschen, is derived from the same root as Herr.
- Using Herr alone to address a stranger without their surname can come across as overly authoritarian or archaic.
Examples in context
- Sie machen mir Angst, mein Herr!You're a creep, Mister!This sentence shows how Herr can be used in an exclamation.Tatoeba #7329692 by vasco_yannic, translation #5108298 by honestlang
- Oh, der feine Herr hat ein neues Wort gelernt.Uh, mister fancy pants learned a new word.This sentence illustrates a sarcastic use of Herr.Tatoeba #11778226 by mashi, translation #11778225 by mashi
- Mir gefällt Ihr Anzug, Herr Poppins. Wo haben Sie den denn her?I like your suit, Mister Poppins. Where did you buy it?This sentence demonstrates addressing someone formally with Herr and their surname.Tatoeba #11677526 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11677502 by tieguy
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix is introduced to a new neighbor by Hannah.
- FelixHallo, ich bin Felix.Hello, I am Felix.
- HannahDas ist Herr Weber, unser Nachbar.This is Mr. Weber, our neighbor.
- FelixGuten Tag, Herr Weber.Good day, Mr. Weber.
- HannahEr ist sehr nett.He is very nice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mister” translations and entries Herr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Herr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
