Whether you’re attending a wedding, watching a German film, or reading about village life, the role of a pastor shows up in more ways than one. Knowing how to say Pastor in German isn’t just useful for religious conversations—it opens up understanding of community structure, cultural norms, and historical texts. The German word is der Pfarrer, and it's one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German—especially common in rural settings, literature, and even TV shows.
Pfarrer is masculine—der Pfarrer—and pronounced something like FAR-rer, with a soft pf at the beginning (say “p” and “f” at the same time), and a slight roll in the r. The female version of the word is die Pfarrerin. If you're still a bit lost with German gender, our short video lesson on der, die, and das can help make it all surprisingly simple.
In German, Pfarrer specifically refers to a Protestant minister or priest, often one in charge of a local church or parish. While the Catholic equivalent is usually der Priester, the term Pfarrer can occasionally apply to Catholic priests in common usage, particularly in Southern Germany and Austria. The term can describe both the person and their role in the community—not just as a religious figure, but also as a counselor, teacher, and community leader.
The opposite of a Pfarrer might be der Atheist (atheist) or der Laie (layperson), depending on the context. Related words include die Kirche (church), die Gemeinde (congregation), and die Predigt (sermon). In village life or classic novels, der Pfarrer is often portrayed as a central figure—respected, sometimes feared, often involved in key life events like baptisms, funerals, and confirmations.
The word also appears in cultural expressions and idioms. For example, “Da muss der Pfarrer lachen” is a humorous way to say something is ridiculously unlikely or absurd—“Even the pastor would laugh at that.”
Example Sentences
Der Pfarrer hielt eine bewegende Predigt über Mitgefühl.
The pastor gave a moving sermon about compassion.
Nach dem Gottesdienst sprach ich kurz mit dem Pfarrer.
I spoke briefly with the pastor after the service.
Die Pfarrerin leitet seit fünf Jahren die Gemeinde.
The female pastor has led the congregation for five years.
Beginner Dialogue
Marta: Wer wird die Hochzeit leiten?
Felix: Unser Pfarrer aus dem Heimatdorf.
Translation
Marta: Who’s going to lead the wedding?
Felix: Our pastor from the home village.
Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Pfarrer
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Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen – and keep the faith in your language learning journey, one word at a time, starting with Pastor in German.