German · People & Family

"Person" in German: Person / Mensch

die Person / der Mensch

Say it: per-ZOHNmasculine / feminine · die Person / der Menschnoun/pɛʁˈzoːn/

Person in German is die Person, or der Mensch for a more everyday human being. Forms say eine Person; signs may list Personen.

Restaurant booking

Tisch für eine Person, bitte.
Table for one person, please.
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How to pronounce Person / Mensch

Say it

per-ZOHN

/pɛʁˈzoːn/

per-ZOHN / mensh. Soft s in Person. Stress on last syllable.

"Person" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Personperson

Neutral formal count word.

der Menschperson / human

Everyday alternative.

Personenpeople / persons

Plural of Person.

pro Personper person

Bills and tickets.

How to use Person / Mensch in real life

  1. 1Restaurant booking

    Tisch für eine Person, bitte.

    Table for one person, please.

    Eine Person.

  2. 2Describing someone

    Er ist ein freundlicher Mensch.

    He is a kind person.

    Mensch alternative.

  3. 3Capacity sign

    Maximal acht Personen im Aufzug.

    Maximum eight persons in the elevator.

    Personen plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with Person / Mensch

Incorrect: der Person (nominative singular)

Correct: die Person

Person is feminine.

Incorrect: ein Person

Correct: eine Person

Feminine indefinite: eine Person.

Good to know

Person is common on forms and bookings. Calling someone ein Mensch can sound warm or philosophical; Leute covers groups more casually.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Checking a museum ticket

  1. ChatPal

    Für wie viele Personen?

    For how many persons?

  2. You

    Nur eine Person ich allein.

    Just one person — me alone.

  3. ChatPal

    Okay. Jede Person zahlt zwölf Euro.

    Okay. Each person pays twelve euros.

  4. You

    Passt. Ein Mensch, ein Ticket.

    Works. One person, one ticket.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Person" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Person" in German

Person vs Mensch?

Person is neutral/countable; Mensch is everyday human being.

Plural of Person?

Personen.

Per person?

Pro Person.

Gender of Person?

Feminine: die Person.

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