You're standing in a quiet bakery in Munich or perhaps a glass-walled office in Frankfurt. You need to get someone's attention. The word is on the tip of your tongue. You want to be polite. You think, "How do you say mister in German?" and your brain immediately serves up Herr. It’s the first word in every textbook. But here’s the thing: just knowing the word isn’t enough. If you use it like we use "mister" in English, you’re going to get some very confused looks. Or worse, you’ll sound like you’re trapped in a 1950s spy movie.
German is a language obsessed with hierarchy and distance. In English, "mister" is often a standalone noun. You might hear a kid say, "Hey, mister!" or a disgruntled customer bark, "Listen, mister." In Germany? Do not do that. Calling someone "Herr" without a last name attached is technically grammatically fine, but socially, it's awkward as hell. It feels incomplete. It’s like wearing a tuxedo jacket with no pants.
The Basic Mechanics of Herr
The word you’re looking for is Herr. It’s pronounced roughly like "hair," though if you want to be precise, it has a short, crisp vowel and a slight trill or vocalic "r" at the end depending on the regional accent.
But grammar nerds, take note. Herr is a weak masculine noun. This means it changes when it’s not the subject of the sentence. If you are talking to Mr. Schmidt, he is Herr Schmidt. If you are talking about Mr. Schmidt and he is the object of your sentence—say, you’re giving a book to him—he becomes Herrn Schmidt.
"Ich gebe Herrn Schmidt das Buch." (I am giving Mr. Schmidt the book.)
Most learners trip over that extra "n." It’s a small detail, but it’s the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding like someone who actually respects the Dative case. Honestly, even some native speakers get lazy with it in casual speech, but in a formal business email? You better include that "n."
Why You Can’t Just Say "Hey, Mister!"
In the US or UK, "Mister" can stand alone. In Germany, Herr almost never does. If you need to get the attention of a man whose name you don’t know, you don't yell "Hallo, Herr!" Instead, you use Entschuldigung (Excuse me).
If you're in a formal setting, you might use Mein Herr, but honestly, that sounds incredibly stiff. It’s the kind of thing a waiter in a five-star hotel might say, or someone about to challenge you to a duel. For the average person walking down the street in Berlin, "Mister" as a standalone concept simply doesn't exist. You use the title with the surname. Always.
The Surname Rule
You’ve got to use the last name. It’s Herr Müller, Herr Schneider, or Herr Fischer. Using a title with a first name—like "Mr. Bob"—is a very Americanized habit that is starting to creep into "Start-up German," but it still feels weird to the older generation. It’s called Duzen versus Siezen. When you use Herr, you are firmly in the territory of Sie (the formal "you").
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Navigating the Professional Minefield
Business in Germany is a different beast. While Silicon Valley has convinced half the world that hoodies and first names are the way to go, the German Mittelstand (the medium-sized companies that power the economy) still breathes on titles.
If you are meeting a man who has a doctorate, the "mister" part gets a bit crowded. He isn't just Herr Weber. He is Herr Doktor Weber. If he’s a professor, he’s Herr Professor Weber.
You might think, "That’s a mouthful. Can’t I just skip it?"
Technically, you could. But you shouldn't. In German culture, these titles are earned through years of grueling work. Omitting them can be seen as a subtle slight. It’s not about ego, usually; it’s about acknowledging the station. However, there is a trend toward "Du-Reform." Big companies like SAP or Adidas have moved toward a more casual culture. Even so, when in doubt, stick to Herr plus the title and the last name until they specifically tell you, "You can say 'Du' to me."
The Case of "Herr Ober"
Historical fun fact: back in the day, you would call a waiter Herr Ober. It’s short for Oberkellner (head waiter).
Don't do this anymore.
It’s considered outdated and a bit condescending. Nowadays, a simple "Entschuldigung" or catching their eye is the way to go. If you go around shouting "Herr Ober!" in a modern restaurant, you’re probably going to wait a long time for your Schnitzel.
Regional Quirks and Dialects
Germany isn't a monolith. How do you say mister in German in Bavaria? It might sound different than in Hamburg. In the deep south, you might still encounter Grüß Gott as a greeting followed by Herr [Surname].
In some Northern regions, people are a bit more direct. But the word Herr remains the standard. It’s the one constant. Interestingly, the word Herr also translates to "Lord" or "Master." If you’re talking about "The Lord" in a religious sense, it’s Der Herr. If you’re talking about the "master of the house," it’s Der Hausherr.
This gives the word a weight that "mister" doesn't quite have in English. "Mister" feels like a label. Herr feels like a position.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lowercasing it in writing. All nouns in German are capitalized. Herr is no exception.
- Using it for yourself. Never introduce yourself as "Guten Tag, ich bin Herr Jones." It sounds incredibly arrogant. Just say your name. Let other people call you Herr.
- Forgetting the "n" in the accusative/dative. As mentioned, "Ich sehe Herrn Braun" (I see Mr. Braun) requires that "n."
- Using it with "Du." Never mix Herr with the casual Du. It’s a linguistic mismatch that will make people’s brains short-circuit. If you’re on a first-name basis, the Herr disappears entirely.
The Evolution of the Word
Language evolves. Twenty years ago, the etiquette was much stricter. Today, especially in international hubs like Berlin or Munich, the lines are blurring. You’ll find Germans who lived in the US for a few years and now find the constant use of Herr exhausting. They might suggest "the Hamburg approach"—using the formal Sie but with first names. It’s a middle ground.
But even with these shifts, Herr remains the bedrock of polite society. It is the verbal signal that you are entering a professional or respectful space. It creates a "buffer" between people, which Germans generally appreciate. It’s not coldness; it’s boundaries.
Practical Steps for Your Next Conversation
If you’re worried about messing this up, follow these three rules:
Listen first. How are others addressing the man in question? If everyone is saying Herr Schmidt, you do the same. If they’re calling him Hans, wait for him to invite you to do the same.
Default to formality. It is 100% better to be "too formal" and have someone tell you "Oh, please, call me Klaus" than to be too casual and have them think you're rude. Being called Herr is never an insult.
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Watch the "n". When writing an email, check if the name is the subject or the object. If you’re writing to someone, it’s "Sehr geehrter Herr Schmidt." If you are referring to someone in the body of the email like "I spoke with Mr. Schmidt," it’s "Ich habe mit Herrn Schmidt gesprochen."
Knowing how do you say mister in German is just the entry point. The real skill is knowing when to let the word sit between you and another person to maintain that classic German Distanz.
When you get ready for your next interaction, practice the pronunciation of Herrn—that subtle "n" at the end. It’s a tiny sound that carries a lot of weight. Use the word as a tool for respect, not just a translation of an English label. If you’re sending a formal letter today, double-check your salutations. If you’re heading into a meeting, remember the titles. And if you’re just buying a loaf of bread, a simple "Guten Tag" is often more than enough to be polite without overcomplicating the "mister" situation.