Du vs. Sie — Informal vs. Formal "You" in German
Quick Rule
Would you call them by their first name? → du. By their last name (Herr/Frau)? → Sie.
du vs. Sie — The Rules
du
Use "du" (informal you) with friends, family, children, classmates, colleagues who offer it, and people your age in casual settings. Always lowercase in sentences.
Sie
Use "Sie" (formal you) with strangers, authority figures, in professional settings, shops, offices, and anyone you don't know well. Always capitalized, even mid-sentence.
Examples — Side by Side
Wie heißt du?
What's your name? (informal)
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name? (formal)
Kannst du mir helfen?
Can you help me? (to a friend)
Können Sie mir helfen?
Can you help me? (to a stranger)
Hast du Hunger?
Are you hungry? (casual)
Haben Sie einen Termin?
Do you have an appointment? (formal)
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live? (friend)
Wo wohnen Sie?
Where do you live? (formal)
Common Mistakes
Using "du" with your boss on the first day.
Wait until they offer "du" — they'll say "Wir können uns duzen."
In German workplaces, the senior person offers the "du". Using it too early is disrespectful.
Können du mir helfen?
Kannst du mir helfen?
"du" uses different verb conjugation than "Sie". "du kannst" vs. "Sie können".
Writing "sie" (lowercase) when meaning formal You.
Writing "Sie" (capitalized) for formal You.
"sie" (lowercase) = she/they. "Sie" (capitalized) = formal You. The capital letter is mandatory.
Memory Trick
"Sie" is always capitalized = it commands respect. "du" is lowercase = casual and close.
Quick Quiz
1. You meet your new doctor. You say: "___ mir bitte helfen?"
2. Your German friend says "Wir können uns duzen." This means:
3. A 5-year-old child. You say: "___ heißt du?"
