Tapfermann

Tapfermann is a German noun meaning a brave man. It is formed from Tapfer, meaning brave, and Mann, meaning man. In contemporary usage the compound is uncommon and often considered archaic or literary; in everyday speech one would typically say Tapferer Mann or simply ein tapferer Mann. The gender is masculine, and the plural is Tapfermänner.

Historically, Tapfermann appeared in older prose, chronicles and poetry to praise soldiers, knights and others who faced danger with courage. It functions as an epithet or label and is closely related to concepts of martial virtue and chivalric sense of honor. In this respect it is similar to English phrases such as “valiant man” or “brave fellow.”

In German rhetorical and literary contexts from the 18th through the early 20th century, the term could be used to laud national or military heroes and to evoke ideals of steadfastness and bravery in the face of hardship. It may appear in historical texts, ballads and moralizing literature as a figure representing virtue rather than a specific individual.

Today Tapfermann is primarily of historical or literary interest. For most modern aims, writers prefer the straightforward Tapferer Mann. The term also relates to the broader concept of Tapferkeit (bravery) within German discourse on courage and virtue.