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[[File:Be polite in German .png|alt=Be polite in German|thumb|Be polite in German]]
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<div class="pg_page_title">How to Be Polite in German: Using Formal and Informal Address</div>
Hello everyone, 😊


Hello everybody,
In today's lesson, we will explore the nuances of politeness in the German language, focusing on how to properly address people in both formal and informal settings. Mastering the art of politeness is essential when learning a new language, and German is no exception. After you've gained a solid understanding of this topic, feel free to explore other related lessons, such as [[Language/Swiss-german/Grammar/Negation|Swiss German Grammar - Negation]], [[Language/German/Grammar/Noun-and-Gender|German Grammar: Noun and Gender]], and [[Language/Swiss-german/Grammar/Pronouns|Swiss German Grammar - Pronouns]]. These additional resources will help you further improve your German language skills and deepen your understanding of German grammar. So, let's dive into the world of German politeness and make your conversations more respectful and enjoyable! 🇩🇪👍
== Understanding the Formal and Informal 'You' in German ==
When learning German, one of the first things you might notice is that there are two different ways to say 'you': the informal 'du' and the formal 'Sie'. Understanding when to use each is crucial for navigating social situations and showing respect.


In today's lesson you will learn some useful vocabulary about '''¨BEING POLITE¨''' in German.
=== a. The Informal 'du' ===
The informal 'du' is used when talking to family members, friends, children, or peers. Essentially, it is reserved for people you are close to or have an equal standing with. For example, you would say 'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Can you help me?) when speaking to a classmate or friend.


Well, I guess every foreigner has heard about that famous German formal version of 'you'.
=== b. The Formal 'Sie' ===
On the other hand, the formal 'Sie' is used when addressing authority figures, older adults, or individuals you are not familiar with. This includes teachers, police officers, or strangers. When speaking to a teacher, for example, you would say 'Können Sie mir helfen?' (Can you help me?). Note that the English translation remains the same, but the level of formality in German is different.


#The informal translation is '<nowiki/>'''du'''', which is used when you're talking to family members, friends, basically people you're close to or when you talk to other adolescents or children.
When in doubt, it is generally safer to use 'Sie' as using 'du' with someone older or in a position of authority could be seen as disrespectful.
#When you're talking to an authority person, like adults, officers and teachers, you must say '<nowiki/>'''sie''''.
#So when you're talking to your classmate you say 'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Can you help me?) and when you're talking to your teacher you say 'Können sie mir helfen?'. Both has the same translation.
#When you can't say for sure if the person you're talking to is the same age as you are or maybe already over 18, you should better say 'sie' because if the person really is older than 18 he or she would feel offended.
#Another point is writing formal letters and e-mails.
#The formal 'you' is written 'Sie' and the informal 'you' can be written 'du' but also 'Du'.
#The same goes for the formal way of 'Ihre' (your), 'Ihr' (your) 'Ihnen' (you) and 'Ihren' (your).


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== Using Formality in Written Communication ==
When writing letters or emails, it is important to maintain the appropriate level of formality. The formal 'you' should be capitalized ('Sie'), while the informal 'you' can be written as either 'du' or 'Du'. The same capitalization rules apply to formal possessive pronouns and forms of address, such as 'Ihre' (your), 'Ihr' (your), 'Ihnen' (you), and 'Ihren' (your).


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== Conclusion ==
In conclusion, understanding the differences between formal and informal address is essential for demonstrating politeness in German. By using the correct form of 'you' and capitalizing accordingly in written communication, you can navigate social situations with ease and show respect to those you interact with.


.
==Other Lessons==
 
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]]
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* [[Language/German/Grammar/Past-Tense|Past Tense]]
 
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
== '''Translations in other languages''' ==
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Gender|Gender]]
 
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Common-Mistakes|Common Mistakes]]
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Negation|Negation]]
!
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Pronouns-in-German|Pronouns in German]]
!
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Imperative-Tense|Imperative Tense]]
=== '''GERMAN''' ===
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
|-
* [[Language/German/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have|How to Use Have]]
|
<span links></span>
|
|-
|'''01'''
|Nun, ich denke, jeder Ausländer hat von dieser berühmten deutschen offiziellen Version von "Sie" gehört.
|-
|'''02'''
|Die informelle Übersetzung lautet "du" und wird verwendet,  wenn Sie mit Familienmitgliedern, Freunden, im Grunde genommen Menschen,  denen Sie nahe stehen, oder wenn Sie mit anderen Jugendlichen oder Kindern sprechen.
|-
|'''03'''
|Wenn Sie mit einer Autoritätsperson wie Erwachsenen, Offizieren und Lehrern sprechen, müssen Sie "sie" sagen.
|-
|'''04'''
|Wenn Sie also mit Ihrem Klassenkameraden sprechen, sagen Sie:  "Kannst du mir helfen?" (Kannst du mir helfen?) Und wenn du mit deinem Lehrer sprichst, sagst du 'Können sie mir helfen?'. Beide haben die gleiche Übersetzung.
|-
|'''05'''
|Wenn Sie nicht sicher sagen können, ob die Person, mit der Sie sprechen, genauso alt ist wie Sie oder vielleicht bereits über 18 Jahre alt  ist, sollten Sie besser "sie" sagen, denn wenn die Person wirklich  älter als 18 Jahre ist, würde sie sich fühlen beleidigt.
|-
|'''06'''
|Ein weiterer Punkt ist das Schreiben von formellen Briefen und E-Mails.
|-
|'''07'''
|Das formale "du" ist geschrieben "Sie" und das  informelle "du" kann geschrieben werden "du", aber auch  "du".
|-
|'''08'''
|Gleiches gilt für den formalen Weg von 'Ihre', 'Ihr' (Ihr), 'Ihnen'  und 'Ihr'.
|}
.
 
{| class="wikitable"
!
!
=== '''BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE''' ===
|-
|
|
|-
|'''01'''
|Bem, acho que todo estrangeiro já ouviu falar sobre a famosa versão  formal alemã de 'você'.
|-
|'''02'''
|A tradução informal é 'du', que é usada quando você está conversando  com familiares, amigos, basicamente pessoas com quem você está próximo ou  quando fala com outros adolescentes ou crianças.
|-
|'''03'''
|Quando estiver conversando com uma pessoa de autoridade, como  adultos, oficiais e professores, você deve dizer 'sie'.
|-
|'''04'''
|Então, quando você está conversando com seu colega de classe, diz  'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Você pode me ajudar?) E quando você está conversando  com seu professor, diz 'Können sie mir helfen?'. Ambos tem a mesma tradução.
|-
|'''05'''
|Quando você não pode dizer com certeza se a pessoa com quem está  conversando tem a mesma idade que você ou se já tem mais de 18 anos, é melhor  dizer 'sie', porque se a pessoa realmente tiver mais de 18 anos, ela se  sentiria ofendido.
|-
|'''06'''
|Outro ponto é escrever cartas formais e e-mails.
|-
|'''07'''
|O 'você' formal é escrito 'Sie' e o 'você' informal pode ser escrito  'du', mas também 'Du'.
|-
|'''08'''
|O mesmo vale para a maneira formal de 'Ihre' (seu), 'Ihr' (seu)  'Ihnen' (você) e 'Ihren' (seu).
|}
 
==Authors==
[[File:German-lesson-du-or-sei.jpg|right|300x300px]]
[http://polyglotclub.com/member/primavera16 Primavera16]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 24 March 2023

Be polite in German
How to Be Polite in German: Using Formal and Informal Address

Hello everyone, 😊

In today's lesson, we will explore the nuances of politeness in the German language, focusing on how to properly address people in both formal and informal settings. Mastering the art of politeness is essential when learning a new language, and German is no exception. After you've gained a solid understanding of this topic, feel free to explore other related lessons, such as Swiss German Grammar - Negation, German Grammar: Noun and Gender, and Swiss German Grammar - Pronouns. These additional resources will help you further improve your German language skills and deepen your understanding of German grammar. So, let's dive into the world of German politeness and make your conversations more respectful and enjoyable! 🇩🇪👍

Understanding the Formal and Informal 'You' in German[edit | edit source]

When learning German, one of the first things you might notice is that there are two different ways to say 'you': the informal 'du' and the formal 'Sie'. Understanding when to use each is crucial for navigating social situations and showing respect.

a. The Informal 'du'[edit | edit source]

The informal 'du' is used when talking to family members, friends, children, or peers. Essentially, it is reserved for people you are close to or have an equal standing with. For example, you would say 'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Can you help me?) when speaking to a classmate or friend.

b. The Formal 'Sie'[edit | edit source]

On the other hand, the formal 'Sie' is used when addressing authority figures, older adults, or individuals you are not familiar with. This includes teachers, police officers, or strangers. When speaking to a teacher, for example, you would say 'Können Sie mir helfen?' (Can you help me?). Note that the English translation remains the same, but the level of formality in German is different.

When in doubt, it is generally safer to use 'Sie' as using 'du' with someone older or in a position of authority could be seen as disrespectful.

Using Formality in Written Communication[edit | edit source]

When writing letters or emails, it is important to maintain the appropriate level of formality. The formal 'you' should be capitalized ('Sie'), while the informal 'you' can be written as either 'du' or 'Du'. The same capitalization rules apply to formal possessive pronouns and forms of address, such as 'Ihre' (your), 'Ihr' (your), 'Ihnen' (you), and 'Ihren' (your).

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

In conclusion, understanding the differences between formal and informal address is essential for demonstrating politeness in German. By using the correct form of 'you' and capitalizing accordingly in written communication, you can navigate social situations with ease and show respect to those you interact with.

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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