The German word for priest is der Priester.
It refers primarily to ordained Christian clergy—especially Catholic or Orthodox priests—but it may also be used for religious figures in ancient or fictional contexts.

It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and helps you navigate conversations about faith, history, and formal roles.

Gender and Pronunciation

It’s a masculine noun: der Priester. The feminine form die Priesterin exists but is rare and mostly used for non-Catholic or symbolic contexts.

Still unsure about noun gender? Our video lesson helps you master it quickly.

Pronunciation:
Priester is pronounced [PREE-stur]

• “PREE” like tree

• “stur” like stir with a softer ending
  Two syllables: PREE-stur

Example sentences

Der Priester hält jeden Sonntag die Messe.
The priest holds mass every Sunday.

Die Menschen baten den Priester um Rat.
The people asked the priest for advice.

Im Mittelalter hatte der Priester großen Einfluss.
In the Middle Ages, the priest had great influence.

Nuance and usage tips

✝️ Priester is typically used in Catholic or Orthodox settings. In Protestant contexts, Pfarrer or Pastor is more common.

📜 In literature, mythology, or ancient history, Priester may also describe religious figures from other traditions (e.g. ägyptischer Priester = Egyptian priest).

👥 Germans may refer to “ein katholischer Priester” when they want to be specific about denomination.

How does this word come up in real conversations?

"Der Priester hat uns getraut."
The priest married us.

"Ich habe den Priester nach der Messe angesprochen."
I spoke to the priest after the service.

"Sie war früher Priesterin in einer freien Gemeinde."
She used to be a priestess in a free (non-institutional) church.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Max: Wer hat die Messe heute gehalten?
Lena: Der neue Priester aus Köln.
Max: Und? War er gut?
Lena: Ja, sehr freundlich und ruhig.

Translation:
Max: Who held mass today?
Lena: The new priest from Cologne.
Max: And? Was he good?
Lena: Yes, very kind and calm.

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Der Priester betet für die Gemeinde.
The priest prays for the congregation.

Accusative:
Ich habe den Priester gesehen.
I saw the priest.

Dative:
Mit dem Priester habe ich gesprochen.
I spoke with the priest.

Genitive:
Die Worte des Priesters waren tröstend.
The priest’s words were comforting.

Other ways to say priest in German

Pfarrer is often used in Protestant contexts, and Pastor is also common, especially in Evangelical communities. Geistlicher (clergyman) is a more general term. For non-Christian settings, you may hear Tempelpriester (temple priest) or Schamane (shaman) depending on the religion or culture.

Word variations and tidbits

Common compounds include Priestergewand (priestly robe), Priesterseminar (seminary), Priestertum (priesthood), and Beichtpriester (confessor). In fiction and games, you’ll also encounter Hochpriester (high priest).

🧠 Fun fact: Priester stems from Latin presbyter, meaning elder—similar to the English priest and presbyterian.

📘 Duden entry for Priester:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Priester
🎥 Want divine clarity in your German vocabulary? Our video course teaches the top 1000 nouns—clearly, memorably, and with heavenly grammar support.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Richter means? He judges in court—Priester listens in confession.
And what about Preis? Some say Priester deal in the price of redemption.