man
one, you, people (in general) · they, someone (unspecified)
Man is an impersonal pronoun meaning 'one', 'you', or 'people' in general. It is used when the subject is not a specific person but people in general or an unspecified someone. It is extremely common in German and often translates to English passive or 'you' in informal speech.
What man means
- one, you, people (in general) — Used to make general statements about what people do, can do, or should do.
- they, someone (unspecified) — Used when the agent is unknown or unimportant, often translated as 'they' or 'someone'.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where man was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Hier kann man jede Menge Spaß haben.Here you can have lots of fun.
- Oh, was kann man denn noch damit spielen?Oh, what else can you play with it?
- Das muss man ihm lassen.You have to give him credit for that.
Example sentences
- Man kann hier gut essen.You can eat well here.
- Man sagt, dass es morgen regnet.They say it will rain tomorrow.
- Wie schreibt man das?How do you spell that?
- Man lebt nur einmal.You only live once.
Grammar
| Type | indefinite pronoun |
|---|---|
| Case forms | nominative: man |
| Verb agreement | always 3rd person singular |
Man is only used in the nominative case. For accusative use 'einen', for dative use 'einem'; for possessive (genitive-like) use 'sein' (rare).
Common phrases
- man kann nie wissenyou never know
- wie man's nimmtdepending on how you look at it
- man ist, was man isstyou are what you eat
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'man' with the noun 'Mann' (man, male person). Remember: 'man' (lowercase, one n) is the pronoun, 'der Mann' (capitalized, two n) is the noun.
Don’t confuse it with
- der Mann — Der Mann means 'the man' (male person), while man is an impersonal pronoun meaning 'one/you/people'.
Questions learners ask
How do you use 'man' in German?
Use 'man' as the subject of a sentence to refer to people in general or an unspecified person. The verb is always in the third person singular.
What is the difference between 'man' and 'Mann'?
'Man' is an impersonal pronoun meaning 'one/you/people', while 'Mann' is a noun meaning 'man' (male person). They are pronounced the same but written differently.
Can 'man' be used in all cases?
No, 'man' is only used in the nominative case. For accusative use 'einen', for dative use 'einem'.