Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mein Herr | /maɪ̯n hɛr/ (word by word) | masculine |
| Herr | /hɛr/ | masculine |
In German, Herr is the most common and widely used term for "sir", functioning similarly to "Mr." or "Sir" in English. When you want to address a male stranger whose name you do not know, you use mein Herr. In formal correspondence or official capacities, the phrase Sehr geehrter Herr is used to mean "Dear Sir".
Which one should you use?
The word Herr is typically used as a title preceding a surname, such as Herr Schmidt (Mr. Schmidt). In contrast, mein Herr is used as a standalone address to mean "sir".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Herr is a masculine noun and follows weak declension. This means it takes an -en ending in the accusative, dative and genitive cases, such as in the phrase mit dem Herrn.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɪ̯n hɛr/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Herr as a standalone title like "Mr." in English. For example, avoid saying Guten Tag, Herr! Instead, use Guten Tag, mein Herr! if you do not know the person's name or use the surname if you do, such as Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt!
Did you know?
- While mein Herr is the correct translation for 'sir', using it today can sound overly stiff or theatrical to modern Germans, often evoking 19th-century etiquette.
- The word Herr is a semantic loan from the Latin word senior. It evolved to describe someone 'grey-haired' or 'venerable' before becoming a title of respect.
- The verb herrschen, meaning 'to rule' or 'to dominate', shares the same root as Herr. This links the title of 'sir' directly to the act of exercising power.
Examples in context
- Guten Tag, mein Herr!Hello sir!This example shows how to use Herr in a polite greeting.Tatoeba #731826 by Dejo, translation #644712 by Quonpi
- Zu Befehl, Herr Major!Sir, yes, sir!This example demonstrates the use of Herr in a formal command or acknowledgement.Tatoeba #3124840 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2210561 by Hybrid
- Ihre Rechnung, mein Herr.Here's your bill, sir.This example shows a polite way to address a customer using Herr.Tatoeba #2369669 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2258661 by _undertoad
- Guten Morgen, Herr SchmidtGood morning, Mr. Schmidt
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A hotel receptionist welcomes a guest.
- JulianWillkommen im Hotel, mein Herr.Welcome to the hotel, sir.
- SarahVielen Dank für den Empfang.Thank you very much for the welcome.
- JulianHaben Sie eine Reservierung, mein Herr?Do you have a reservation, sir?
- SarahJa, auf den Namen Julian.Yes, under the name Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sir” translations and entries Herr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mein, Herr) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Herr, mein, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
