Personal pronouns (ich, du, er, sie, etc.)

When to use du vs Sie (formal)

• du = informal: colleagues you know well, friends, family, people your age in relaxed contexts.
• Sie = formal/polite: new colleagues, clients, supervisors, older people, official situations.
• Sie is used for one person or multiple people and is always capitalized.

Professional tip: In German workplaces, people may offer du (“Wir können du sagen.”). Until then, Sie is the safe default.

Pronouns you need right now (subject form)

These are the subject pronouns (who is doing the action):

• sie can mean she or they. Context (and verb form later) clarifies it.
• Sie (formal you) looks the same in singular and plural, but it’s capital S.

A common confusion: ich/du vs mich/dich

English speakers often mix up subject and object forms.

• ich / du = subject (I / you do something)
• mich / dich = object (someone sees me / calls you)

The key mini-phrases: “How are you?” with du and Sie

• Informal: Wie geht's dir?
• Formal: Wie geht es Ihnen?

Pay attention: the pronoun changes the small word after the verb:

• dir goes with du
• Ihnen goes with Sie

Quick self-check (before you speak)

1. Is this a formal or informal relationship? → choose Sie or du.
2. Am I saying who does the action? → use ich/du/er/sie/es/wir/ihr/sie/Sie.
3. Am I using the “How are you?” phrase? → use dir (du) or Ihnen (Sie).
4. Check the capital letter: Sie (formal) vs sie (she/they).

Goal for A1: You can greet people professionally, ask how they are, and choose du vs Sie confidently.