honorary citizen
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honorary citizen
A person who has been awarded an honorary distinction, honorary citizenship, by a city or municipality because of special achievements or services.
Nach seiner langen Karriere wurde der berühmte Wissenschaftler zum Ehrenbürger seiner Heimatstadt ernannt.
After his long career, the famous scientist was named an honorary citizen of his hometown.
The word is made up of 'die Ehre' (honor) and 'der Bürger' (citizen). An 'Ehrenbürger' (honorary citizen) is therefore literally a 'citizen in honor of' a city.
Er wurde für seine Verdienste um die Stadt zum Ehrenbürger ernannt.
He was named an honorary citizen for his services to the city.
The most common verb combination is 'jemanden zum Ehrenbürger ernennen' (to name someone an honorary citizen) or, in the passive, 'zum Ehrenbürger ernannt werden' (to be named an honorary citizen). Another fixed expression is 'jemandem die Ehrenbürgerwürde verleihen' (to award someone honorary citizenship).
Die Stadt wird der Künstlerin die Ehrenbürgerwürde verleihen.
The city will award the artist honorary citizenship.
To name the corresponding city or municipality, you use the preposition 'von' (of/from) or, less commonly, 'in' (in). So someone is 'Ehrenbürger von Berlin' (an honorary citizen of Berlin).
Sie ist die erste Ehrenbürgerin von Köln seit über 20 Jahren.
She is the first honorary citizen of Cologne in over 20 years.
citizen
'Bürger' and 'Ehrenbürger' both have to do with a city or municipality. 'Bürger' simply means a person who lives in a city or municipality or belongs to it. 'Ehrenbürger', on the other hand, is a special title. A city awards it to a person because they have done something important or good for the city. The words can be confused because 'Ehrenbürger' contains the word 'Bürger'. But not every 'Bürger' is an 'Ehrenbürger'. 'Ehrenbürger' is used only for this official honor.
Die Stadt dankte dem Ehrenbürger für seine lange Hilfe bei sozialen Projekten.
The city thanked the honorary citizen for his many years of help with social projects.
Viele Bürger haben in der Pause Fragen zum neuen Stadtpark gestellt.
Many residents asked questions about the new city park during the break.