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.
to indulge
To give oneself over to a particular passion, vice, or activity. This use often has a slightly ironic or exaggerated undertone.
Am Wochenende huldigt er ausgiebig seiner Leidenschaft für alte Filme.
On weekends, he indulges extensively in his passion for old films.
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 revere / worship
Both words can express great respect for a person. „Verehren“ is more common in present-day standard German and takes an accusative, whereas „huldigen“ sounds much more formal or historical and takes a dative. Use „verehren“ in everyday language and „huldigen“ in a solemn or historical setting.
Die Bürger huldigten dem König bei der feierlichen Zeremonie.
The citizens paid homage to the king at the solemn ceremony.
Viele Menschen verehren die Sängerin wegen ihrer außergewöhnlichen Stimme.
Many people revere the singer because of her extraordinary voice.
