preacher
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preacher
A person who gives a sermon in a church service or at a religious gathering and proclaims religious teachings.
Der Prediger sprach in der voll besetzten Kirche über das Thema Vergebung.
The preacher spoke about the topic of forgiveness in the packed church.
'Der Prediger' (the preacher) belongs to the word family around the verb 'predigen' (to preach / to give a religious speech). A preacher is therefore a person who preaches. The speech itself is called 'die Predigt' (the sermon).
Jeden Sonntag predigt der Pfarrer in der Kirche.
Every Sunday, the pastor preaches in the church.
In a figurative sense, 'Prediger' (preacher) is often used in a slightly ironic or critical way for someone who wants to convince others of a non-religious idea. It implies that the person is very zealous and sometimes a bit preachy.
Mit seinen ständigen Vorträgen über gesunde Ernährung ist er ein echter Gesundheitsprediger geworden.
With his constant lectures about healthy eating, he has become a real health preacher.
In the figurative meaning, 'Prediger' (preacher) is often combined with 'für' (for) and a topic, or used as part of a compound noun. Common examples include 'ein Prediger für den Umweltschutz' (an advocate/preacher for environmental protection) or words like 'Moralprediger' (moralizer).
Er reist als Prediger für die Rechte von Tieren durch das ganze Land.
He travels throughout the country as an advocate for the rights of animals.
pastor
'der Pfarrer' and 'der Prediger' can both appear in a religious context. However, a Pfarrer has a church office and is responsible for a congregation and pastoral care. A Prediger is mainly a person who preaches, that is, presents religious content. This can be a Pfarrer, but it does not always have to be. Learners may confuse the words because a Pfarrer often also preaches. 'Pfarrer' describes the role in the congregation more, while 'Prediger' describes the activity of speaking about religion more.
Der Prediger sprach lange über Hoffnung und Verantwortung.
The preacher spoke at length about hope and responsibility.
Der Pfarrer hat am Wochenende eine kranke Nachbarin besucht.
The pastor visited a sick neighbor over the weekend.