However, in German, it is still an acceptable and formal way to address someone, even if we are talking about businessmen that are using the formal form of address “Sie” when communicating with each other. The verbs following the formal form of "you"—"Sie"—are conjugated identically as in the third-person plurals. In German, one needs to write several words with a capital letter. Like we explained in “100+ Important Business German Words, Phrases and Sentences”, use the formal “Sie” form and not the “du” form of pronouns while writing. German has 1 pronoun that has 3 different meanings. The German formal speech actually uses the 3rd person plural “sie” (they) for a single person as well as a group. Someone told me that it can mean "you" (plural) or "they", but how do I know when it means one or another? Men are addressed formally as Herr followed by their surname, women as Frau followed by their surname. If you’re on formal terms — in other words, if you’re addressing one or more people with Sie (zee) (you, formal) — then you have one set of expressions. The question "Wie geht es Ihnen?" It may not display this or other websites correctly. This means you will always need to write the following pronouns with a capital letter if you speak in formal speech: Nominativ: Selten kommen Sie zu spät! Now, when we would write “Gehen Sie nach Hause?” with a capital letter, one could easily recognize the capitalized “Sie” and therefore connect it to the formal speech. The phrase "vielen Dank für … It’s more comprehensive, especially with more specific … 1. person, letter, relationship, behaviour, language formell , förmlich ; (= official) talks, statement, complaint, agreement, request formell , offiziell ; (= ceremonial) occasion, reception feierlich. You use the formal "you" when talking to strangers or acquaintances, people more senior or important than you and in formal situations. German: Formal or Informal? "The German Word 'ihr' Is an Article and a Pronoun." Here’s a quick example: Both can be translated as "you" but "dir" is used in informal situations and "Ihnen" is used in formal situations. For example, "Sie sprechen Deutsch." You are using an out of date browser. Germans are said to be overly formal and reserved and their language reflects it. Besides the distinction between the informal and formal form of apologizing and asking questions, you can practice talking in German and saying sorry. There are two ways to say “you” in German: the formal “Sie” and the informal “du.” You should always use “Sie” in business relationships, unless directed otherwise. Sie (Ihr, Ihnen, Ihre) Use K2 Though there was a constant development during the last centuries in regards to which words to write with a capital letter, the last big change happened in 1996 with the “Reform der deutschen Rechtschreibung“. But German has a masculine ‘it’, a feminine ‘it’, and a neuter ‘it’ to use with masculine / feminine / … — The universal “Thank you” in German. The only difference here is we add “heute” meaning today. If you use the website further, we assume your consent. Like we explained in “100+ Important Business German Words, Phrases and Sentences”, use the formal “Sie” form and not the “du” form of pronouns while writing. We are using the third person plural ("they") as a formal way to address a person, corresponding to Spanish "usted". If the recipient of the e-mail is unknown If the recipient of the e-mail is unknown, you would, in most cases, choose a formal salutation. Hi there! Dativ: Ich gebe Ihnen mein Versprechen. Now, as “sie” (they) is already in use, there needs to be a possibility to differentiate between the two and actually the solution for this was the use of the capital letter. Genitiv: Der Schlüssel Ihres Autos / Ihrer Wohnung ist in meinem Büro. You can imagine that it is only used … As mentioned above, one of the most apparent differences between informal and formal German is the different words for “you.” Sie is formal, while du is informal. If you are just starting out with the German language, this is probably the first time you have seen the words “mir”, “dir”, and “Ihnen”. (formal) How are you? These are all different words for “you”, which are used to replace “ich”, “du”, and “Sie” when they are used in certain ways. Very formal, recipient has a special title that must be used in place of their name. In this article, we will focus on when to write a personal pronoun in German with a capital letter. In a more formal business setting, or when talking to someone who is older or in a position of authority, make sure you use the polite pronoun “Ihnen.” Joining my new German conversation course might be the perfect solution for you! need to capitalize personal pronouns in German in case you refer to the formal speech. The German sie / Sie can mean she, they, or You (formal). Just another variation to say How are you in German. When writing “Gehen sie nach Hause?”, one can easily realize that the sentence is referring to the plural “sie” as the verb is “gehen” and the “sie” is written with a small letter. Find out everything you need to know in this article.Â. he made them a formal bow er verbeugte sich formell or feierlich vor ihnen. Remember that “du” is the equivalent of saying “hey you.” Thanks again berndf! In the past, one needed to write you (du) and you plural (ihr) as well as Sie (you formal) with a capital letter in letters and official documents. The formal address is used with unfamiliar adults, in business situations, with officials, or when shopping. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Getting your hellos and goodbyes straight in German is a matter of keeping in mind how well you know someone. The German Word 'ihr' Is an Article and a Pronoun. "Ihnen" is the dative form. We are using the third person plural ("they") as a formal way to address a person, corresponding to Spanish "usted". English uses the pronoun ‘it’ for all objects. Take Care When Using 'Du' and 'Sie' German makes a clear distinction between the singular, familiar "you" (​ du) and the plural, formal "you" (Sie) in social situations. Become confident in speaking German with my online conversation classes for beginners and intermediates.Â. However, as like many other languages, German still has a formal speech and actually this is a bit tricky as you will see in the following. Note the initial capital letter in each. JavaScript is disabled. German speakers often mention the frase „Ich wünsche Ihnen noch einen schönen Tag“ – I wish you’ll have a good day! Please, someone could explain me what exactly "ihnen" means? If you want to communicate in informal speech, then there is no need for capitalization. – I give you my promise. Culture In Germany, the Importance of Being Formal. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Jo. 4) Let’s try a variation. I hope that it is clear now, that you only (!) How you conjugate your verbs will depend on which word you use. You would use "dir" if you speak to a friend or a family member. Today, we do not do this any longer for “du” and “ihr”. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/articles-and-pronouns-in-german-1444493 Schmitz, Michael. However, as like many other languages, German still has a formal speech and actually this is a bit tricky as you will see in the following. Switch to "Vielen Dank für alles" to thank someone for multiple things. Highly informal, Jo is a slang that corresponds to our “yo”. Back to German: Formal and casual Greetings • Wie geht es dir? is mostly used in a formal context. German translation of 'formal'. Wie geht es Ihnen heute? It was slightly adjusted in minor aspects in 2011 and 2017 and is valid up to date. Today, we do not do this any longer for “du” and “ihr”. Do you want to improve your spoken German? – You seldomly come too late! – I do not know you. To recap: if you’re in Germany for only a short time, and if in doubt, use Sie. One expression in German for sorry could be “Entschuldiung”. Though I provide all blog content for free, your support will be very much appreciated. Danke translates to “thank you” or “thanks” and it … "Ihnen" is the dative form. Sie, Ihr, Ihnen & Ihrer with a capital letter. This includes situations at work or between the teacher and student, but also the questions asked during a first meeting. If you address more than one person formally, you use the formal form "Ihnen". This demonstrates how German people keep their personal lives separate from business. Continue addressing the recipient formally throughout your German letter: use “Sie”, “Ihr”, and “Ihnen” as pronouns and don’t forget to capitalise the … You must log in or register to reply here. (formal) 3) Looks familiar to the first and second examples, right? „Auf Wiederhören“ is directly translated as „It would be nice to hear from you again“ – as you can see, it is used as a formal way to say goodbye to someone you talk by phone in a formal … – The key of your car / apartment is in my office. Germans have a reputation of being serious and quite reserved, which you can also see in the language… and what shall I say?! When you’re working in a German office building like this one, you should always use “Sie” – unless you know that the office culture says otherwise. The formal Sie is used to address strangers, business associates, and acquaintances (Bekannte, as opposed to close friends, Freunde), and for most situations outside the family. Danke! 🙂Â. How are you today? This website uses cookies. Often, German students have problems understanding when they should write a personal pronoun with a capital letter. Ich danke dir / Ihnen / euch – “my thanks to you” In casual situations with friends or close colleagues, use “dir” or “euch” as the pronoun in this phrase. As German has the four cases Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, and Genitiv, this rule applies to the personal pronouns for each case. / Wie geht es Ihnen? In this lesson we will learn the three forms of you in German: the singular familiar form, the plural familiar form, and the formal form that can be used to indicate singular or plural pronouns. Wie geht es Ihnen? YIKES. In written German, you can differentiate the two meanings because you always capitalize the pronoun if to means "usted": It is far better to be formal and for the German then to tell you to be less formal, than to address the other person with their first name when the they are used to be called Mr or Mrs. German Formal vs Informal Speech Instructor: Penelope Heinigk Show bio Penelope holds a doctorate degree in German and a professional teaching license in the state of Colorado. German has 3 different types of ‘it’. Take note that the formal greeting ends in a coma and the following opening line of the letter begins with a lowercase word. In the past, one needed to write you (du) and you plural (ihr) as well as Sie (you formal) with a capital letter in letters and official documents. The formal pronoun for "you" is Sie in the nominative and accusative cases and Ihnen in the Dative. In this case, the cliché is correct. This means either "You speak German" or "They speak German", and it is completely up to the context to determine which one it is. From Lesson 01.06 Abschied III Anrede "Ihnen" is the following sentence: Ich wünsche Ihnen eine gute Nacht. If you are unsure whether to be formal or informal, use the formal address. Sie (Ihr, Ihnen, Ihre) Use K2 Unlike in English, most European and other languages also have both a familiar and a formal "you." You've really helped me. Depending on the context of the email, use the appropriate formal language. It is one of the most important words in the German language because it can be used for different questions and statements. If you wish to get more information about other capitalized words in German, check out the Article “When to use capital letters in German“. "Sie spricht Deutsch." If you want to say “yes” in German, you’ll want to make sure you know what you’re agreeing to first. Akkusativ: Ich kenne Sie nicht. [ˈfɔːməl] adjective. The Scandinavians, for example, deliberately ignore their formal … Translating to “How are you?” in English, “Wie geht es dir” is the form used for close friends while “Wie geht es Ihnen” is the form you would use for people in authority (Read more about addressing a German: Sie / du). You don't, it has to be clear from context. By the way, the word “Hello” in German sounds almost the same as it does in English. Dict.CC is a free online German-English dictionary that comes in handy if you need to look up a word fast. Dear Sir, Sehr geehrter Herr, ... falls wir Ihnen weiter behilflich sein können.