Herbert Pilch (born 1927 Wehlau, Prussia) is a German linguist and celtologist. He was a professor of English language and literature at the University of Freiburg in the Breisgau. His contributions to linguistics included a theory of phonemes and studies of Basel German. His main work is the Manual of English Phonetics. In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.