SIE or DU? | Addressing somebody correctly in German
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- In this Q&A-style video, Mark and Andrea from Coffee Break German answer learner Bénédicte's question about how to address someone properly in German, using the words 'du' and 'Sie', which both translate as 'you' (singular). You may already know that, generally, 'du' is informal and 'Sie' is formal, but do you know exactly when to use each word? This video will help you to address people with confidence in German!
Here are the phrases included in this video:
• Sollen wir „du" sagen?
• Ist es ok, wenn wir „du" sagen?
• Können wir uns duzen?
• Du kannst „du" (zu mir) sagen.
Make sure you watch the full video to hear the specific contexts in which you use 'du' and 'Sie'. We've provided subtitles in English which can be turned on using the Subtitles/CC button.
We've provided subtitles in English which can be turned on using the Subtitles/CC button.
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This is such a tricky concept for me! As an Australian I think we are extremely informal in general and I’ve had lots of conversations with my (German) partner about this.
I’m a doctor and all my colleagues (senior, junior, nursing) and all my patients refer to me by my first name. Maybe some of the very elderly people will call me Doctor but to be honest they usually assume I’m a nurse because I’m a woman 😅
So my partner has tried to say “you use Sie with anyone who you would automatically respect” but that doesn’t really apply to anyone here.
In fact the more formal you are with someone here, the more it’s implied that you don’t like them. I’m really worried about accidentally offending someone when we go and visit his family later this year 😅
This video is very helpful, thanks!!
Danke schön!
Vielen Dank Mark und Andrea! I appreciate your videos.
Sehr hilfreich, danke
Vielen Dank!
Vielen dank.
Vielen Dank! I have a follow up question: do co-workers ever use du, or is it more likely for them to stick to Sie? Also, do people ever switch between "du" and "Sie" depending on the setting or situation? For example, might someone use "du" with a coworker at a weekend picnic and then switch back to "Sie" the following week at an important meeting?
Hallo! It really depends on the company and the tone it uses. For example, co-workers at a corporate bank would most likely use "Sie" but co-workers at a start-up or a company putting more emphasis on a casual working environment would be likely to use "du". Having said this, it's definitely imaginable that in formal meetings (with investors or people outside of the company) they would switch to "Sie" to give it a more formal tone if that's what's required.
@@coffeebreaklanguages Vielen Dank! That makes a lot of sense. I think I'm getting the hang of it!
In general - if there isn't a work place policy on it like "we all use du with eachother" - it is a question of seniority and the one higher up is always the one that may offer the "du"
As towards switching: that is a serious insult. Being allowed to address someone as "du" implies that you have a personal relationship, revoking that by going back to the "Sie" is the same as revoking the personal relationship (which happens when people no longer want to associate with someone).
In a work place environment you would still use the "du" and informal address when talking to them directly but use the formal address when talking to others or the group about them. E.g. in a meeting you wouldn't say "As Mark has just said...", but "As Mr. Smith has just said...". While still using Mark when addressing him directly.
Only exception can be when you are representing externally as agents of your corporation, in that case even close friends might use "Sie" while talking in front of the group to appear more professional and leave all personal bonds out of the setting
Though there can also be a scenario where at a social gathering a senior of you says "here we can say "du" to eachother" which implies that they want to leave the formalities and work place hierarchy for the social event but will insist on them being resumed outside of it
thanks!!
Súper!!!
Maybe I'm oversimplifying this. But it seems to boil down to formal and informal.
Hi Jacob, that's correct! It's formal and informal 😊
There is no incorrect way. Just DU everyone.