Herr

Herr is a German honorific used before the surname of a man and is equivalent to Mr. in English. It signals formality and respect and is common in business, academia, and formal correspondence. It can be combined with professional titles, as in Herr Doktor or Herr Professor. The feminine form is Frau, and the plural form for men is Herren.

The term derives from Old High German herro and der Herr, meaning lord, master, or gentleman. Historically it referred to a feudal lord and later became a general courtesy in everyday speech. In religious contexts, der Herr or der Herrgott means “the Lord” or “God.”

Declension and forms: Herr is declined as a masculine noun: Nominative der Herr, Accusative den Herrn, Dative dem Herrn, Genitive des Herrn. Plural die Herren. The title is used in formal address and is typically placed before the surname: Herr Schmidt. In written form, “Sehr geehrter Herr Schmidt” is a common opening in formal letters.

Usage notes: The use of Herr is restricted to men and is appropriate in many settings but not in informal or intimate address, where first names or pronouns are used. In modern German, the title is commonly used with surnames in business and official contexts, but many people prefer to be addressed by their professional title or by name alone in casual contexts.