noun
hero
B1
'hero'. Masculine noun (der Held). Plural is Helden. It's an n‑declension (weak) noun: many oblique singular cases take -en (den Helden, dem Helden, des Helden). Genitive plural der Helden. No special preposition required; used literally and figuratively to describe brave people or protagonists.
Examples
Die Zeitung bezeichnete den Soldaten als Held, weil er bei der Evakuierung mehrere Menschen rettete.
The newspaper called the soldier a hero because he rescued several people during the evacuation.
Der Feuerwehrmann wurde als Held gefeiert, nachdem er das Kind aus dem brennenden Haus gerettet hatte.
The firefighter was hailed as a hero after he rescued the child from the burning house.
Er war der Held des Films.
He was the hero of the film.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a caped figure on a hill saving people.
Sounds like the English 'held' — imagine someone who has 'held' others safe, a hero.
der (masculine) — think 'der Mann' (the man) to remember masculine gender.
Notes
Common masculine noun often used in stories; plural is Helden.