der Hirte
shepherd
A person who tends, cares for, and guards a herd or flock of livestock, especially sheep.
EXAMPLE
Der Hirte trieb seine Herde am Abend zurück in den Stall.
The shepherd drove his flock back into the stable in the evening.
der Hirte
shepherd
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Meanings
der Hirte
shepherd
In a religious or figurative sense, a spiritual leader (e.g., a priest or pastor) who cares for his congregation.
EXAMPLE
Der Papst wird oft als oberster Hirte der katholischen Kirche bezeichnet.
The Pope is often described as the chief shepherd of the Catholic Church.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Hirte' (shepherd) is closely connected with 'die Herde' (flock, herd) and the verb 'hüten' (to guard, to tend). So a 'Hirte' is a person who tends a herd or flock.
EXAMPLE
Es ist die Aufgabe des Hirten, die Herde zu schützen.
It is the shepherd's job to protect the flock.
Register and style
The word 'Hirte' can sound somewhat old-fashioned or poetic in its literal meaning today, unless you are talking directly about agriculture. It is often associated with a traditional, rural life.
EXAMPLE
In den Bergen kann man manchmal noch einen Hirten mit seinen Schafen sehen.
In the mountains, you can sometimes still see a shepherd with his sheep.
Typical collocation
In its literal meaning, a 'Hirte' is almost always connected with sheep. The combination 'der Hirte und seine Schafe' (the shepherd and his sheep) is a very fixed collocation.
EXAMPLE
Der Hirte kennt jedes seiner Schafe.
The shepherd knows each of his sheep.
Context clue
The figurative meaning is almost exclusively religious. Words like 'Kirche' (church), 'Gemeinde' (congregation), 'Gläubige' (believers), or titles like 'Pastor' and 'Priester' signal that a spiritual leader is meant. The phrase 'der gute Hirte' (the good shepherd) is a well-known metaphor for Jesus Christ.
EXAMPLE
Ein Priester sollte ein guter Hirte für seine Gemeinde sein.
A priest should be a good shepherd for his congregation.
Compare with
Hirte vs Pfarrer
pastor
Both der Pfarrer and der Hirte can refer to a member of the clergy who cares for a congregation. Pfarrer is the specific ecclesiastical title, while Hirte describes this leadership and caregiving role metaphorically. Pfarrer is appropriate in a factual designation, while Hirte can be used in a religious metaphor.
Hirte
In seiner Predigt beschreibt die Gemeinde den Geistlichen als Hirten, der sich um die Menschen kümmert.
In his sermon, the congregation describes the clergyman as a shepherd who cares for the people.
Pfarrer
Der Pfarrer unserer Gemeinde kümmert sich um die Menschen und leitet regelmäßig den Gottesdienst.
The pastor of our congregation cares for the people and regularly leads the service.
In real life
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