der Pope
Orthodox priest
A priest of the Orthodox Church, especially the Russian Orthodox Church.
EXAMPLE
Der Pope leitete die Zeremonie in der kleinen Dorfkirche.
The Orthodox priest led the ceremony in the small village church.
der Pope
Orthodox priest / prig
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Meanings
der Pope
prig
A derogatory, colloquial term for a person who behaves in an overly dignified, moralizing, or dogmatic way.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, so ein Pope zu sein, und lass die Leute doch einfach Spaß haben.
Stop being such a prig and just let people have fun.
Usage tips
False friend
Careful: 'der Pope' is not the English word 'pope'. The head of the Catholic Church is 'der Papst' in German. 'Der Pope' refers to a priest of the Orthodox Church.
EXAMPLE
Der Papst lebt im Vatikan in Rom.
The pope lives in the Vatican in Rome.
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear. If people are talking about the Orthodox Church, religion, or history, it means the priest. In a personal argument or informal discussion, it is a derogatory term.
EXAMPLE
Der Pope segnete das frisch verheiratete Paar.
The Orthodox priest blessed the newly married couple.
Register and style
In the meaning of 'moralizing person', 'Pope' (prig) is a colloquial insult. It is perceived as offensive and should only be used with caution.
EXAMPLE
Mein Nachbar ist ein echter Pope, der sich über alles beschwert.
My neighbor is a real prig who complains about everything.
Compare with
Pope vs Pfarrer
pastor
Pfarrer and Pope can both refer to Christian clergy who perform religious duties. Pfarrer refers to the leader of a usually Catholic or Protestant congregation, while Pope means a priest of the Orthodox Church. Pope is therefore the appropriate term for an Orthodox congregation, while Pfarrer is more suitable for a parish.
Pope
Der Pope unserer orthodoxen Gemeinde leitet den Gottesdienst und betreut die Menschen der Gemeinde.
The Orthodox priest of our congregation leads the service and looks after the people in the congregation.
Pfarrer
Der Pfarrer unserer katholischen Gemeinde leitet den Gottesdienst und betreut die Menschen der Pfarrei.
The pastor of our Catholic congregation leads the service and looks after the people in the parish.
In real life
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