der/die Irre
Translation
madman, madwoman, lunatic, insane person
Examples
Man hielt ihn für einen Irren.
He was considered a madman.
Sie sprach wie eine Irre.
She spoke like a madwoman.
Grammar Patterns
((as a madman/madwoman)) like a madman/madwoman He ran like a madman.
((to consider sb. a madman)) to think sb. is a madman They considered him a madman.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Verrückter, Wahnsinniger; Antonyms: Normaler
Etymology
A nominalized form of the adjective 'irr' (mad, crazy), from Old High German 'irri' (astray, angry).
Memory Tips
It sounds like the English word 'err', as in to make an error in judgment or sanity. Someone who has 'erred' from the path of reason.