hero / strapping fellow
Loading your saved state.
hero / warrior
An outdated or literary term for a brave and strong warrior or hero, especially in old legends and poems.
In der Sage kämpfte der kühne Recke Siegfried gegen den Drachen.
In the legend, the bold hero Siegfried fought against the dragon.
strapping fellow
Colloquial and often slightly ironic for a very tall, strong man.
Schau dir diesen Recken an, der ist bestimmt über zwei Meter groß!
Look at that strapping fellow; he must be over two meters tall!
The word 'Recke' (hero / strapping fellow) is closely related to the verb 'recken' (to stretch). So originally, a Recke is someone who makes himself look tall and strong or towers above others.
Der Held reckte seine Glieder und zog sein Schwert.
The hero stretched his limbs and drew his sword.
In the meaning of 'Held' (hero) or 'Krieger' (warrior), the word is outdated and today is used almost only in literary or historical contexts such as legends, fairy tales, and poems.
Die alten Lieder erzählen von den Taten tapferer Recken.
The old songs tell of the deeds of brave heroes.
When 'Recke' (hero / strapping fellow) is used for a person today, it is usually colloquial and slightly ironic, meaning a very tall, strong man. The tone is more admiring or humorous.
Der neue Basketballspieler ist ein wahrer Recke.
The new basketball player is a real strapping fellow.
hero
Both words can refer to a brave fighter or an admired figure. „Der Recke“ sounds old-fashioned and literary and is especially suited to old legends or poems, while „der Held“ is also commonly used in everyday language today. Use „Recke“ for a deliberately archaic tone and „Held“ otherwise.
In der alten Sage verteidigt ein starker Recke das Dorf.
In the old legend, a strong warrior defends the village.
In dem modernen Film rettet der Held die Stadt vor einer großen Gefahr.
In the modern film, the hero saves the city from a great danger.
