Herr

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Archived revision by 86.145.59.183 (talk) as of 12:24, 19 December 2019.
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See also: herr

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

Herr (plural Herrs)

  1. A surname

German

German Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia de

Alternative forms

  • Herre (archaic)
  • Herꝛ (archaic; sometimes used in fraktur)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old High German hēriro, hērro (“grey, grey-haired”), the comparative form of hēr (“noble, venerable”) (by analogy with Latin senior (“elder”)), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”). Cognate with Dutch heer, Swedish herre, Old English hār, English hoar, Old Norse hárr, compare also modern German hehr (“noble, holy”), herrschen (“to rule”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /hɛr/, [hɛʁ], [hɛr], [hɛɐ̯]
  • Audio:(file)
    IPA(key): [hɛɐ̯]
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    Audio:(file)
    IPA(key): [dɜɾ‿hɛr] (der Herr)
  • Homophones: Heer, hehr, her (common merger)

Noun

Herr m (genitive Herrn or Herren, plural Herren or Herrn, diminutive Herrchen n or Herrlein n)

  1. man, gentleman (polite term)
    Herrenbekleidung
    gentlemen's wear
    Herrentoilette
    gentlemen's toilet
    Ein älterer Herr
    An old gentleman
  2. sir (title of respect)
    Wie kann ich Euch zu Diensten sein, Herr?
    How can I serve you, sir?
    Gnädiger Herr!
    (Can be translated as my lord in English, but there is no direct equivalent)
  3. Mr., mister, sir
    Sehr geehrter Herr Schmidt
    (Dear) Mr. Schmidt
    Die Herren Schmidt und Müller
    Messrs. Schmidt and Müller
    Herr Doktor von Braun ― Dr. von Braun
    Herr Professor ― Dr. (Ph.D.) / Professor
    Herr Bundeskanzler ― Mr. Chancellor or Sir
    Jawohl, Herr Oberst! ― Yes, sir! (Because Herr already is a respectful form of address, adding a term like sir is unnecessary) (literally, “Yes, Mr. Colonel.”)
    Entschuldigung, der Herr? Sie haben Ihre Uhr verloren. ― Excuse me, sir? You've lost your watch. (standard usage between strangers)
    Was kann ich Ihnen bringen, meine Herren? ― What can I bring you, sirs?
    Sehr verehrte Damen und Herren ― Dear Sir or Madam (address in formal letters and e-mails)
  4. gentleman
    Meine Damen und Herren...
    Ladies and gentlemen...
  5. master, lord (generally denotes that somebody has control over something, either in a generic or in a regal sense)
    Herr der Lage sein
    to be master of the situation
    Weil die Tiere auf seinen Wink reagieren, nennt man ihn den Herren der Wölfe.
    Because the animals are at his beck and call, he is called Lord of the Wolves.
    • Who is the ruler/owner of these lands? The Count of Karabas., Der gestiefelte Kater:
      Wer ist Herr dieser Landen? Der Graf von Karabas.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    Der Schirmherr
    the patron
  6. lowest title of the former German nobility
    Gans Edle Herren zu Putlitz
    Gans (noble) lords of Putlitz
  7. Lord, God
    Das Haus des Herrn
    The House of God
    Gott der Herr
    The Lord


Usage notes

  • Omitting Herr (or the female form Frau) when addressing a person with their last name is usually perceived as disrespectful, but it is more common when speaking about somebody who is not present, except in formal contexts. However, there may be contextual pitfalls and regional differences, which makes it advisable for learners not to leave out Herr (and Frau).
  • When people address each other with their last name, but say du to each other, the words Herr and Frau are always left out in most regions. In parts of western Germany, however, there is (or was) a system of saying du and Herr (Frau) among coworkers.

Declension

  • The forms Herrn and Herren were originally simple phonetic/graphic variants. Both were used for the singular and plural inflections. In contemporary standard German they are—usually—distinguished functionally, Herrn being the inflected singular, Herren the plural.
  • With functional split of -n/-en:

Template:de-decl-noun-m

  • Without functional split of -n/-en:

Template:de-decl-noun-m

Derived terms

Derived terms

Template:der-mid

Further reading

  • “Herr” in Duden online

Hunsrik

Alternative forms

  • hër (Portuguese based orthography)

Etymology

From Old High German hēriro, hērro, the comparative form of hēr (“noble, venerable”) (German hehr), by analogy with Latin senior (“elder”).

Pronunciation

Pronoun

Herr m (plural Herre)

  1. Mr., mister, sir
  2. gentleman
  3. master, lord, generally denotes that somebody has control over something, either in a generic or in a regal sense
  4. Lord, God
  5. Used as a title of respect that is not translated into English or replaced with Sir

Further reading

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