junger Mann
The German phrase for "young man" is junger Mann.
junger Mann refers to a male person who is no longer a child but is not yet old. When addressing someone directly as junger Mann, the phrase can sound patronizing or condescending, similar to how it is used in English to reprimand someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective jung (young) with the strong masculine nominative ending -er and the noun Mann (man).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern German dialects, such as those spoken in Bavaria, the term Bursch is used to address young men casually.
How does it change in a sentence?
junger Mann is the nominative singular masculine form used for the subject of a sentence. When young man is the direct object of a sentence, the adjective ending changes to jungen Mann.
Did you know?
- The German word Mann and the English word 'man' are doublets, meaning they both descend from the same ancient root *mann- in Proto-Germanic.
- Using junger Mann to address a stranger can actually make you sound like a character in a historical drama or a very stern authority figure.
- The adjective jung is used in the term junggeselle, which refers to a bachelor or a young man who has not yet married.
Examples in context
- Nun mal langsam, junger Mann.Hold your horses, young man.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use junger Mann when reprimanding someone.Tatoeba #1865424 by Zaghawa, translation #40043 by CK
- Nicht so hastig, junger Mann!Not so fast, young man!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use junger Mann when telling someone not to be too hasty.Tatoeba #2769321 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2769803 by Hybrid
- Ich bin kein junger Mann mehr.I'm not a young man anymore.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use junger Mann in a statement about one's own age.Tatoeba #3218899 by freddy1, translation #3219182 by Theocracy
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura sees Lukas walking towards her in the park.
- LauraHallo, junger Mann! Wie geht es dir?Hello, young man! How are you?
- LukasMir geht es gut, danke Laura.I am doing well, thanks Laura.
- LauraDu siehst heute sehr schick aus.You look very chic today.
- LukasDanke, ich habe ein Date heute Abend.Thanks, I have a date tonight.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mann, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
