01
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
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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
'der Pfarrer' and 'der Pope' can both mean a Christian clergy member, but they do not belong to the same church context. 'Pfarrer' is used especially in Catholic and Protestant congregations when someone leads a congregation. 'Pope' refers to a priest of the Orthodox Church, especially the Russian Orthodox Church. The words can be confused because both lead church services and have religious duties. Even so, 'Pope' is not simply another word for 'Pfarrer'. If you are talking about a local Protestant or Catholic congregation, 'Pfarrer' is correct; in the Orthodox Church, 'Pope' can be appropriate.
Pope
In der orthodoxen Kirche begrüßte der Pope die Besucher vor dem Gottesdienst.
In the Orthodox church, the priest greeted the visitors before the service.
Pfarrer
Am Abend hat der Pfarrer die Jugendlichen auf die Konfirmation vorbereitet.
In the evening, the pastor prepared the young people for confirmation.
In real life
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