Learn German: Sie And Du In German | German In 60 Seconds

Learn the difference between Sie and du in German – or the formal and informal forms of address – with this little German lesson by our expert Thea. Do you know the difference?

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[zarkop]

If I was gonna be polite I wouldn't rush them and just wait till they're fertig

[rex]

Ah Babbel, I'm learning German and I'm fairly certain I'll be visiting this channel often!

[nomenfix]

She says that unlike English, German has a formal form of 'you'. Actually, it is the the other way around: Unlike English, German has an INFORMAL form of 'you'.

[marcozg]

Man kann auch die altmodische Form benutzen: Seid IHR fertig, oh Grosswesir?
Geruht es EUCH zum schmecken, EURE Hoheit?
Bei uns in der Schweiz ist das in manchen Dialekten durchaus gebräuchlich :-)

[superrmrcool]

I wish Anna was my tutor any idea on how I can hire her?

Does anyone know her twitter handle or instagram?

[lp]

Sind Sie dazu bereit, mit dem nächsten Tagesordnungspunkt fortzufahren?

[Rioxz]

lol .. xD Irgendwie lustig, als Deutscher des zu sehen haha

[plerpplerp]

Sie doesnt mean you it means "they" and "you" is not the German "du" but "euch". English used to use "ye" (plural of "thou") as a formal form of address. This is why we the same form for second person plural and singular. The whole idea of not directly addressing people comes from the ancient Romans who thought it was rude to speak directly to people. German, like Danish and Norwegian, uses the pronoun "they" to show distant to the person you are talking to. Other languges use the plural " you" form (French, Russian) which no longer exists in English.

[gast]

Sie is not always written with a capital. Just in very formal letters.