Lesson 4: Du vs. Sie
In this lesson, you’ll learn the difference between du and Sie in German. Both words can mean you, but they are used in different situations.
What you’ll learn
- when to use du
- when to use Sie
- how formal and informal German work
- how simple questions change with du and Sie
Two ways to say “you”
German has two common ways to say you:
du = informal you
Sie = formal you
This is important because the form you choose depends on the situation.
When to use du
Use du with:
- friends
- family
- children
- classmates
- people your age in casual situations
Examples:
Wie heißt du? = What is your name?
Woher kommst du? = Where are you from?
Sprichst du Englisch? = Do you speak English?
When to use Sie
Use Sie in more formal situations, such as:
- talking to a stranger
- talking to a teacher
- talking to a worker in a shop or office
- talking to someone in a professional situation
Examples:
Wie heißen Sie? = What is your name?
Woher kommen Sie? = Where are you from?
Sprechen Sie Englisch? = Do you speak English?
A quick comparison
Here is the same question in both forms:
Wie heißt du? = What is your name?
Wie heißen Sie? = What is your name?
Woher kommst du? = Where are you from?
Woher kommen Sie? = Where are you from?
Sprichst du Englisch? = Do you speak English?
Sprechen Sie Englisch? = Do you speak English?
Notice that the verb changes too.
Helpful beginner rule
If you are not sure which one to use, Sie is usually the safer choice in formal situations.
As you learn more German, it will become easier to know when du sounds natural.
Mini dialogue
Informal
Anna: Hallo! Wie heißt du?
Ben: Ich heiße Ben. Und du?
Anna: Ich heiße Anna.
Formal
Frau Keller: Guten Tag. Wie heißen Sie?
Herr Braun: Ich heiße Herr Braun.
