homeless man
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homeless man
A male person who has no fixed place of residence and often lives on the street or in emergency shelters.
Ein Sozialarbeiter kümmert sich um den Obdachlosen und versucht, eine Wohnung für ihn zu finden.
A social worker is taking care of the homeless man and trying to find an apartment for him.
The word is made up of 'Obdach' (an old word for protection or shelter, literally 'over the roof') and the ending '-los' (without). An 'Obdachloser' (homeless person) is therefore someone 'without protection' or 'without shelter'.
Viele Freiwillige verteilen im Winter Decken an Obdachlose.
Many volunteers distribute blankets to homeless people in winter.
This noun is declined like an adjective. The ending changes depending on article, case, and number. This is typical for nouns that describe people and are derived from adjectives.
Ich habe einem Obdachlosen etwas Geld gegeben.
I gave some money to a homeless man.
In connection with 'Obdachlose' (homeless people), verbs that express help and support are often used. Common combinations are 'Obdachlosen helfen' (to help homeless people), 'sich um Obdachlose kümmern' (to take care of homeless people), or 'Obdachlose unterstützen' (to support homeless people).
Die Stadt hat eine neue Notunterkunft für Obdachlose eröffnet.
The city has opened a new emergency shelter for homeless people.
bum / loser
'der Obdachlose' and 'der Penner' can both refer to a person who lives on the street. The difference is very important: 'der Obdachlose' is a factual and respectful term. 'Der Penner' is colloquial and derogatory. It can also be used more generally as a crude insult for a person. Learners should not simply swap these words. If you want to speak neutrally or respectfully, use 'der Obdachlose'. 'Der Penner' sounds insulting and can hurt people.
Der Obdachlose bekommt in der Notunterkunft eine warme Mahlzeit.
The homeless man receives a warm meal at the emergency shelter.
Auf dem Bahnsteig wurde der Mann als Penner beschimpft.
On the platform, the man was insulted as a bum.