to pay homage
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to pay homage
To honor a person or deity with great reverence and devotion. The word is often used in a historical or very formal context and takes the dative.
Das Volk versammelte sich, um dem neuen König zu huldigen.
The people gathered to pay homage to the new king.
This verb always requires the dative. You huldigt 'jemandem' (to someone) or 'etwas' (to something). A construction with the accusative is incorrect.
Die Ritter huldigten ihrem Herrn.
The knights paid homage to their lord.
In the meaning 'Ehre erweisen' (to pay honor), 'huldigen' (to pay homage) is a very formal and elevated word. It is mainly used in historical, literary, or religious contexts, for example for kings or gods.
In der Antike huldigten die Menschen vielen verschiedenen Göttern.
In antiquity, people paid homage to many different gods.
When 'huldigen' (to indulge) is used with a passion or a vice, it has an ironic or exaggerated undertone. It expresses that you devote yourself intensively to something.
Jeden Sonntag huldigt er dem Nichtstun auf dem Sofa.
Every Sunday, he indulges in doing nothing on the sofa.
In the ironic meaning, the verb is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical phrases are 'einer Leidenschaft huldigen' (to indulge a passion), 'dem Genuss huldigen' (to indulge in pleasure), or 'dem Müßiggang huldigen' (to indulge in idleness).
Nach einer anstrengenden Woche wollte sie nur noch dem Genuss huldigen.
After a strenuous week, she only wanted to indulge in pleasure.
to praise
'preisen' and 'huldigen' both belong to a very strong and elevated form of praise. 'preisen' means to praise someone or something very positively and solemnly. It can appear in speeches, texts, or religious contexts. 'huldigen' is even more strongly connected with reverence and devotion. You often pay homage to a deity, a ruler, or a highly revered person. In everyday language, both words sound rare and solemn. 'preisen' fits more with great praise, while 'huldigen' fits more with reverence.
Im alten Königreich mussten die Menschen dem neuen Herrscher huldigen.
In the old kingdom, people had to pay homage to the new ruler.
In seiner Rede pries der Bürgermeister den Mut der Helfer.
In his speech, the mayor praised the courage of the helpers.