herra

See also: Herra, herrá, and herrå

Basque

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

herra

1. hatred

Finnish

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Norse herra, from Old Saxon hērro, from Old High German hērro, the comparative form of hēr (“noble, venerable”) (German hehr), by analogy with Latin senior (“elder”). Cognates include Danish herre, Norwegian herre, Swedish herre, Icelandic herra, Dutch heer, German Herr. The Old High German word originally meant "grey, grey-haired", and descends from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”), making it cognate with Old English hār (English hoar), Old Norse hárr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈherːɑ/, [ˈhe̞rːɑ̝]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -erːɑ
• Syllabification^(key): her‧ra
• Hyphenation^(key): her‧ra

Noun

herra

1. Mister (polite title for an adult man)

   Herra Virtanen, voinko puhua kanssanne?

   Mister Virtanen, may I speak with you?

2. sir (polite form of address to a man, often preceded by hyvä)

   Anteeksi, herra... ― Excuse me, Sir...

   Hyvät herrat! ― Gentlemen!

3. gentleman (honourable or sophisticated man)

   Ovesta astui sisään kolme hienoa herraa.

   Three smart gentlemen stepped in the door.

4. lord, master (person having authority over someone or something)

   kartanon herra ― lord of the manor

   Sormusten herra ― Lord of the Rings

   oman itsensä herra ― master of oneself

   Kärpästen herra ― Lord of the flies

5. (informal) a member of the ruling or upper class, a person of authority; (in the plural) the ruling or upper class, the mighty, people in authority (no exact English translation, definitely not any with the same nuance)

   herrojen herkku ― delicacy (only) for the rich (because only they can afford it)

   herrojen metkuja ― antics of the ruling class

   elää herroiksi ― to live like a lord / to live like a king

6. (religion) alternative letter-case form of Herra (“Lord”)

Declension

Inflection of herra (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		herra	herrat
genitive		herran	herrojen
partitive		herraa	herroja
illative		herraan	herroihin
		singular	plural
nominative		herra	herrat
accusative	nom.	herra	herrat
	gen.	herran
genitive		herran	herrojen herrain rare
partitive		herraa	herroja
inessive		herrassa	herroissa
elative		herrasta	herroista
illative		herraan	herroihin
adessive		herralla	herroilla
ablative		herralta	herroilta
allative		herralle	herroille
essive		herrana	herroina
translative		herraksi	herroiksi
abessive		herratta	herroitta
instructive		—	herroin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of herra (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative herrani herrani accusative nom. herrani herrani gen. herrani genitive herrani herrojeni herraini rare partitive herraani herrojani inessive herrassani herroissani elative herrastani herroistani illative herraani herroihini adessive herrallani herroillani ablative herraltani herroiltani allative herralleni herroilleni essive herranani herroinani translative herrakseni herroikseni abessive herrattani herroittani instructive — — comitative — herroineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative herrasi herrasi accusative nom. herrasi herrasi gen. herrasi genitive herrasi herrojesi herraisi rare partitive herraasi herrojasi inessive herrassasi herroissasi elative herrastasi herroistasi illative herraasi herroihisi adessive herrallasi herroillasi ablative herraltasi herroiltasi allative herrallesi herroillesi essive herranasi herroinasi translative herraksesi herroiksesi abessive herrattasi herroittasi instructive — — comitative — herroinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative herramme herramme accusative nom. herramme herramme gen. herramme genitive herramme herrojemme herraimme rare partitive herraamme herrojamme inessive herrassamme herroissamme elative herrastamme herroistamme illative herraamme herroihimme adessive herrallamme herroillamme ablative herraltamme herroiltamme allative herrallemme herroillemme essive herranamme herroinamme translative herraksemme herroiksemme abessive herrattamme herroittamme instructive — — comitative — herroinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative herranne herranne accusative nom. herranne herranne gen. herranne genitive herranne herrojenne herrainne rare partitive herraanne herrojanne inessive herrassanne herroissanne elative herrastanne herroistanne illative herraanne herroihinne adessive herrallanne herroillanne ablative herraltanne herroiltanne allative herrallenne herroillenne essive herrananne herroinanne translative herraksenne herroiksenne abessive herrattanne herroittanne instructive — — comitative — herroinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative herransa herransa accusative nom. herransa herransa gen. herransa genitive herransa herrojensa herrainsa rare partitive herraansa herrojaan herrojansa inessive herrassaan herrassansa herroissaan herroissansa elative herrastaan herrastansa herroistaan herroistansa illative herraansa herroihinsa adessive herrallaan herrallansa herroillaan herroillansa ablative herraltaan herraltansa herroiltaan herroiltansa allative herralleen herrallensa herroilleen herroillensa essive herranaan herranansa herroinaan herroinansa translative herrakseen herraksensa herroikseen herroiksensa abessive herrattaan herrattansa herroittaan herroittansa instructive — — comitative — herroineen herroinensa

Derived terms

• ei pidä mennä herrojen kanssa marjaan
• herra se on herrallakin
• herrajesta
• herrajestas
• herranen
• herranjesta
• herranjestas
• herraskainen
• herrastella
• herraus
• herroitella
• herruus

compounds

• aatelisherra
• feodaaliherra
• hallitusherra
• herrahissi
• herrainhuone
• herrainkaulus
• herrainkerho
• herrainvaate
• herrainvaatehtimo
• herrakansa
• herrakutsut
• herranjumala
• herranterttu
• herraonni
• herrarotu
• herraseura
• herraskartano
• herrasmies
• herrasnainen
• herraspoika
• herrasväki
• herraviha
• hoviherra
• kamariherra
• kartanonherra
• kirkkoherra
• leskiherra
• linnanherra
• lääninherra
• maaherra
• nuoriherra
• pakkasherra
• rötösherra
• sotaherra
• temppeliherra
• tilanherra
• vapaaherra

Further reading

• “herra”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-01

Icelandic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛrːa/

  Rhymes: -ɛrːa

Etymology 1

From Old Norse herra, from Old Saxon hērro, from Old Dutch hēriro, Old High German hērro, the comparative form of hēr (“noble, venerable”) (German hehr), by analogy with Latin senior (“elder”). Cognates include Danish, Norwegian and Swedish herre, Dutch heer, German Herr. The Old High German word originally meant “grey, grey-haired”, and descends from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”), making it cognate with Old English hār (English hoar), Old Norse hárr.

Noun

herra m (genitive singular herra, nominative plural herrar)

1. lord, master
2. the Lord (God)
3. an honorific title for a bishop; Lord
4. an honorific title for a noble; Lord
5. an honorific title for the highest state officials, now especially the president, but also a sýslumaður (the local official of the state in each sýsla), ambassador, etc.; Excellency
6. mister (general honorific for a man, especially in writing; usually abbreviated: hr.)
7. a general deferential form of address to a male; sir
8. gentleman (general polite term for a male)

   dömur mínar og herrar

   Ladies and gentlemen.

Usage notes

Used as an honorific title (prenominally or on its own) for bishops and for the president of Iceland (also, especially historically, for some other dignitaries). Also used as a general courtesy title for men, equivalent to English mister, but then primarily in formal written correspondence and abbreviated hr. However, when it is used as an honorific title for bishops, presidents, etc., it should never be abbreviated. The equivalent female title is frú (in both contexts).

Declension

Declension of herra (masculine)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	herra	herrann	herrar	herrarnir
accusative	herra	herrann	herra	herrana
dative	herra	herranum	herrum	herrunum
genitive	herra	herrans	herra	herranna

Derived terms

• andlangs herra
• dömur mínar og herrar
• herramaður

See also

• (archaic) herri

Etymology 2

Verb

herra (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative herraði, supine herrað)

1. (transitive) to knight or bestow nobility on
2. (transitive) to confer on someone the dignity of herra, allow someone to be called herra
3. (transitive) to address or refer to as herra (as should be done to bishops, etc.)

Conjugation

herra – active voice (germynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að herra
supine sagnbót		herrað
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		herrandi
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	herra	herraði		herri	herraði
	þú	herrar	herraðir		herrir	herraðir
	hann, hún, það	herrar	herraði		herri	herraði
plural	við	herrum	herruðum		herrum	herruðum
	þið	herrið	herruðuð		herrið	herruðuð
	þeir, þær, þau	herra	herruðu		herri	herruðu
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	herra (þú), herraðu
plural	þið	herrið (þið), herriði1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

herraður — past participle (lýsingarháttur þátíðar)

strong declension (sterk beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	herraður	herruð	herrað	herraðir	herraðar	herruð
accusative (þolfall)	herraðan	herraða	herrað	herraða	herraðar	herruð
dative (þágufall)	herruðum	herraðri	herruðu	herruðum	herruðum	herruðum
genitive (eignarfall)	herraðs	herraðrar	herraðs	herraðra	herraðra	herraðra
weak declension (veik beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	herraði	herraða	herraða	herruðu	herruðu	herruðu
accusative (þolfall)	herraða	herruðu	herraða	herruðu	herruðu	herruðu
dative (þágufall)	herraða	herruðu	herraða	herruðu	herruðu	herruðu
genitive (eignarfall)	herraða	herruðu	herraða	herruðu	herruðu	herruðu

Ingrian

Etymology

From Old Norse herra. Related to Finnish herra and Estonian härra.

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈherːɑ/, [ˈhe̞rː]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈherːɑ/, [ˈhe̞rːɑ]
• (Hevaha) IPA^(key): /ˈherːɑ/, [ˈhe̞rːɑ]
• Rhymes: -erː, -erːɑ
• Hyphenation: her‧ra

Noun

herra

1. mister
2. lord, master
   • 1916, V. Alava, quoting Vögla, “1946. Soikkola, Suija. V I 1903”, in Väinö Salminen, V. Alava, editor, Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot. Länsi-Inkerin runot‎^[2], volume III2, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, lines 1-2:

     Herra viekas venäläin // Hypitti heposiiaa.

     The cunning Russian lord // Let his horses jump.

Declension

Declension of herra (type 3/kana, no gradation)
	singular	plural
nominative	herra	herrat
genitive	herran	herroin
partitive	herraa	herroja
illative	herraa	herroi
inessive	herraas	herrois
elative	herrast	herroist
allative	herralle	herroille
adessive	herraal	herroil
ablative	herralt	herroilt
translative	herraks	herroiks
essive	herranna, herraan	herroinna, herroin
exessive1)	herrant	herroint
1) obsolete *) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) **) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.

Coordinate terms

• frovva (“lady, mistress”)

Derived terms

• Herra
• maaherra
• metsäherra
• vallanherra

References

• Fedor Tumansky (1790) “герра”, in Опытъ повѣствованїя о дѣянїях, положенїи, состоянїи и раздѣленїи Санкт-Петербургской губернїи [An experiment of an account of the acts, location, condition and division of the Saint Petersburg gubernia], Краткїй словарь ижерскаго, финскаго, эстонскаго, чюдскаго, и ямскаго нарѣчїя съ россїйскимъ переводомъ [A short dictionary of the Ingrian, Finnish, Estonian, Chud and Yamtian dialects with a Russian translation], page 689
• Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 58
• Arvo Laanest (1997) Isuri keele Hevaha murde sõnastik, Eesti Keele Instituut, page 35

Maltese

Etymology 1

Root
h-r-j
1 term

From Arabic هَرَّأَ (harraʔa).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛːr.ra/

Verb

herra (imperfect jherri, past participle mherri, verbal noun therrija) (transitive)

1. to wear out; to cause to deteriorate gradually
2. to tire; to exhaust (a person)

Conjugation

Conjugation of herra (Form II)

positive forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	herrejt	herrejt	herra	herrejna	herrejtu	herrew
	f			herriet
imperfect	m	nherri	therri	jherri	nherru	therru	jherru
	f			therri
imperative			herri			herru
negative forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	herrejtx	herrejtx	herriex	herrejniex	herrejtux	herrewx
	f			herrietx
imperfect	m	nherrix	therrix	jherrix	nherrux	therrux	jherrux
	f			therrix
imperative			therrix			therrux

Etymology 2

Root
h-r-r
1 term

From Arabic هَرْء (harʔ), هُرَاء (hurāʔ).

Noun

herra f

1. rudeness, roughness

   Alternative form: herriera (Birkirkara)

   bil-herra ― rudely

Old Norse

Alternative forms

• herri, harri

Etymology

From Old Saxon hērro, from Old Dutch hēriro, Old High German hērro, the comparative form of hēr (“noble, venerable”) (German hehr), by analogy with Latin senior (“elder”). The Old High German word originally meant "grey, grey-haired", and descends from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”), making it cognate with Old English hār (English hoar), Old Norse hárr.

Noun

herra m

1. mister, gentleman
2. lord, master
3. sir

Descendants

• Icelandic: herra, herri
• Faroese: harra, harri
• Norwegian Bokmål: herre
• Norwegian Nynorsk: herre
• Old Swedish: härra
  • Swedish: herre
  • → Estonian: härra
• Danish: herre
• Gutnish: herre
• → Estonian: härra
• → Finnish: herra
• → Ingrian: herra
• → Ukrainian: гарний (harnyj)

Verb

herra

1. (transitive) to confer with the title of "herra" upon a person

Conjugation

Conjugation of herra — active (weak class 2)

infinitive	herra
present participle	herrandi
past participle	herraðr
	indicative			subjunctive
	present	past		present	past
1st person singular	herra	herraða		herra	herraða
2nd person singular	herrar	herraðir		herrir	herraðir
3rd person singular	herrar	herraði		herri	herraði
1st person plural	herrum	herruðum		herrim	herraðim
2nd person plural	herrið	herruðuð		herrið	herraðið
3rd person plural	herra	herruðu		herri	herraði
imperative	present
2nd person singular	herra
1st person plural	herrum
2nd person plural	herrið

Conjugation of herra — mediopassive (weak class 2)

infinitive	herrask
present participle	herrandisk
past participle	herrazk
	indicative			subjunctive
	present	past		present	past
1st person singular	herrumk	herruðumk		herrumk	herruðumk
2nd person singular	herrask	herraðisk		herrisk	herraðisk
3rd person singular	herrask	herraðisk		herrisk	herraðisk
1st person plural	herrumsk	herruðumsk		herrimsk	herraðimsk
2nd person plural	herrizk	herruðuzk		herrizk	herraðizk
3rd person plural	herrask	herruðusk		herrisk	herraðisk
imperative	present
2nd person singular	herrask
1st person plural	herrumsk
2nd person plural	herrizk

Further reading

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910) “herra”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press; also available at the Internet Archive