01
der Mann
man
An adult male person.
example
Der Mann an der Kasse trug einen Hut.
The man at the checkout was wearing a hat.
der Mann
man
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Part of compounds
The word 'Mann' (man) is often the final part of compound nouns, such as 'Schneemann' (snowman), 'Kaufmann' (businessman/merchant), or 'Feuerwehrmann' (firefighter). These often, but not always, refer to a male person.
EXAMPLE
Als Geschäftsmann ist er viel auf Reisen.
As a businessman, he travels a lot.
Colloquial exclamation
The word 'Mann!' (man!) is used colloquially as an exclamation to express surprise, annoyance, or enthusiasm. It often comes at the beginning of the sentence and is strongly emphasized.
EXAMPLE
Mann, war das ein spannendes Fußballspiel!
Man, what an exciting soccer game that was!
Context clue: husband
When 'Mann' is used with a possessive pronoun like 'mein' (my), 'dein' (your), or 'ihr' (her/their), it almost always means 'husband' or steady partner. Without a possessive pronoun, it usually refers to any male person.
EXAMPLE
Mein Mann kocht heute Abend für uns.
My husband is cooking for us tonight.
Figurative meaning
The phrase 'der richtige Mann für den Job' (the right man for the job) is often used figuratively. It means 'the best-suited person', regardless of gender.
EXAMPLE
Für diese schwierige Verhandlung brauchen wir unseren besten Mann.
For this difficult negotiation, we need our best person.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'seinen Mann stehen' (to hold one's own) means to prove oneself or master a challenge. The possessive pronoun agrees with the person (ich stehe meinen Mann, sie steht ihren Mann).
EXAMPLE
In der Krise hat die Bürgermeisterin wirklich ihren Mann gestanden.
In the crisis, the mayor really held her own.
Compare with
Mann vs man
one / you
'man' and 'der Mann' sound similar, but they do not mean the same thing. 'man' is a pronoun for general statements, rules, or recommendations. It does not refer to a specific person. 'der Mann' is a noun and means an adult male person or a husband. The words are easy to confuse because they look almost the same. Pay attention to the spelling: 'man' is written lowercase and with one n, while 'Mann' is written with a capital letter and two n's.
Mann
Der Mann an der Kasse hilft einer älteren Kundin mit den Taschen.
The man at the checkout helps an elderly customer with her bags.
man
In diesem Kurs muss man jeden Montag eine kleine Aufgabe abgeben.
In this course, you have to hand in a small assignment every Monday.
In real life
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