ferryman
Loading your saved state.
ferryman
A person whose job is to operate a ferry and use it to transport people, animals, or vehicles across a body of water such as a river or lake.
Der Fährmann brachte uns sicher ans andere Ufer des Flusses.
The ferryman brought us safely to the other bank of the river.
ferryman
In mythology, especially Greek mythology, the figure (Charon) who ferries the souls of the dead across a river into the realm of the dead.
In der Sage muss man dem Fährmann eine Münze als Lohn geben, um ins Reich der Toten zu gelangen.
In the legend, you have to give the ferryman a coin as payment in order to reach the realm of the dead.
The word is made up of 'Fähre' (ferry) and 'Mann' (man). So it literally refers to a man who operates a ferry.
Der Fährmann winkte uns zu, als wir am Anleger warteten.
The ferryman waved to us as we waited at the dock.
'Fährmann' (ferryman) belongs to the word family of 'fahren' (to drive/travel). A 'Fähre' (ferry) is a ship that 'fährt' (carries/transports) people or vehicles across a body of water.
Die Fähre fährt nur bei gutem Wetter.
The ferry only runs in good weather.
Typical verbs associated with the profession of a ferryman are 'übersetzen' (to ferry across, in the sense of transporting), 'ans andere Ufer bringen' (to bring to the other bank/shore), or 'die Fähre steuern' (to steer the ferry).
Der Fährmann setzte uns sicher über den reißenden Fluss.
The ferryman ferried us safely across the raging river.
The mythological meaning can be recognized from context. Words like 'Totenreich' (realm of the dead), 'Seele' (soul), 'Sage' (legend), or the name 'Charon' clearly point to the figure from mythology.
Die alten Griechen glaubten, dass der Fährmann die Seelen über den Fluss Styx bringt.
The ancient Greeks believed that the ferryman brings the souls across the River Styx.
captain
Both words can refer to the person responsible for a ferry. The captain is in command of the ship and bears responsibility for it; the ferryman operates a ferry and uses it to transport people or vehicles across a body of water. One person can therefore be both.
Der Fährmann bringt mit seiner kleinen Fähre täglich Menschen über den Fluss.
The ferryman takes people across the river every day in his small ferry.
Der Kapitän trägt auf der großen Autofähre die Verantwortung für Schiff und Passagiere.
The captain is responsible for the ship and passengers on the large car ferry.
