Whether you're describing someone’s husband, talking about a stranger, or quoting a news report, you’ll need to know how to say man in German. It’s one of the first words learners encounter, and one of the most widely used.

The word is der Mann. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Männer. If you’re not yet sure when to use der, die, or das, my gender video lesson will help clear it up quickly.

Der Mann is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it's essential for both everyday and formal language. But don’t confuse it with the impersonal word man, which means "one" or "people in general" — as in man sagt... ("people say...").

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Der Mann steht vor der Tür.
The man is standing at the door.

Accusative:
Ich sehe den Mann im Park.
I see the man in the park.

Dative:
Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.
I give the book to the man.

Genitive:
Das ist die Tasche des Mannes.
That is the man’s bag.

Where you’ll hear Mann:

• Ehemann – husband

• Polizist und Mann – police officer and man (news reporting formula)

• Männerabend – guys’ night

• Männerrolle – male role

• ein echter Mann – a real man

Common verbs:

• sehen – to see

• heiraten – to marry

• beschreiben – to describe

• vertrauen – to trust

• arbeiten – to work
  (Er arbeitet als Lehrer. – He works as a teacher.)

Common adjectives:

• alt – old

• jung – young

• nett – nice

• stark – strong

• verheiratet – married
  (Der Mann ist verheiratet. – The man is married.)

Note: While Mann refers to an adult male, it’s also used idiomatically in phrases like zu zweit, zu dritt, Mann für Mann (person by person, one at a time).

Beginner dialogue using Mann:

A: Kennst du den Mann da drüben?
B: Nein, aber er sieht freundlich aus.
A: Do you know the man over there?
B: No, but he looks friendly.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Mann.

“Wer ist ein Mann, den du respektierst — und warum?”
Who is a man you respect — and why?

This is your chance to reflect in German and connect the word to your own world.

Duden entry for “Mann”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say man in German — and how der Mann shows up in relationships, society, and speech every day.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and build your vocabulary from the ground up.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Laster — and explore vices, trucks, and double meanings.
Or revisit Macht — for the language of control, responsibility, and influence.