lehrer

Lehrer is a German noun meaning a person who teaches. The standard form for a male teacher is Lehrer, while a female teacher is Lehrerin. In everyday usage the masculine form is often used generically for teachers of any gender; the plural Lehrer can refer to a group of male or mixed-gender teachers, and Lehrerinnen is the plural for female teachers.

Etymology and form: Lehrer is derived from the verb lehren, “to teach,” with the agent suffix -er. Related terms include Lehre, meaning teaching or apprenticeship, and Lehrling, meaning apprentice. The word has been part of the German language since the Middle Ages and has cognates in other Germanic languages.

Role and context: A Lehrer works in schools or other educational settings to impart knowledge, plan lessons, assess students, and maintain classroom order. In German-speaking countries, becoming a teacher typically requires university studies in a chosen subject, pedagogical training, and a practical teaching period known as the Referendariat, followed by a state examination or certification.

Variants and related titles: Terms such as Grundschullehrer (primary school teacher), Fachlehrer (subject teacher), and Klassenlehrer or Stufenlehrer (teacher responsible for a class or grade) describe different duties or levels within the profession. The general term Lehrer can also apply to instructors in other educational or instructional contexts.

Surname use: Lehrer is also a surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. As a family name it is relatively common in German-speaking regions and among people of descent from those populations.