Choosing between the personal pronouns du and Sie is not an easy matter. So when do we use du? When do we use Sie? What is the difference between du and Sie? Let's find out in this article!
Choosing between the personal pronouns du and Sie is not always easy. So when do we use du? When do we use Sie? What is the difference between du and Sie? Let's explore this in the article below!
- When we talk and communicate with someone familiar or close to us, we use their first name and the pronoun du:
Martin, sprichst du Deutsch? (Martin, do you speak German?)
Laura, wo arbeitest du? (Laura, where do you work?)
- In formal or polite situations, when communicating with someone we don't know well, or someone of higher status, to show respect we must use their last name and the pronoun Sie:
Herr Meier, sprechen Sie Deutsch? (Mr. Meier, do you speak German?)
Frau Bauer, wo arbeiten Sie? (Ms. Bauer, where do you work?)
- In addition, we can distinguish between du and Sie according to a few principles:
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Use du with people of the same age.
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Only use du with older people or those of higher status when they themselves invite you to use du.
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When in doubt, it is best to use Sie.
- You can avoid using a personal pronoun when you are unsure or cannot decide whether to use du or Sie:
Wie geht's?
Ich bräuchte bitte Hilfe!
Lieber Max Meier, …
Danke für den Anruf!
……
Knowledge test
Du oder Sie?
- 1.
Wenn der Chef jünger als seine Mitarbeiter ist, dann sagen beide eher ... zueinander.
- 2.
Auch jüngere Menschen im ähnlichen Alter sagen eher.......
- 3.
Sollten Sie mal Kontakt mit der Polizei haben, müssen Sie sie unbedingt ......... sagen.