Formal 'You' - Sie

Sie is the formal pronoun for "you."

It works for one person or a group.

This makes your life much easier.

You do not need to learn two different formal words.

Grammatically, Sie behaves exactly like the word for "they."

Both use the same verb endings.

However, there is one massive difference.

You must always capitalize the S in Sie.

If you write sie with a small s, it means "she" or "they."

Think of the capital S as a top hat.

It makes the word look fancy and formal.

Without the top hat, it is just a regular pronoun.

1. 1Using Sie is actually quite simple.
2. 2Follow these three easy steps:
3. 3Start with the pronoun Sie (always capitalized).
4. 4Find the infinitive form of your verb.
5. 5Keep the -en ending on the verb.
6. 6For example, the verb "to come" is kommen.
7. 7To say "You come," you simply say Sie kommen.
8. 8The verb "to be" is the only major exception.
9. 9For Sie, the form is Sie sind.
10. 10It is the same as saying "they are."
11. 11This pattern is very consistent across almost all verbs.
12. 12It is like a grammar cheat code for beginners.

Use Sie in any professional setting.

This includes job interviews and office meetings.

Use it when talking to doctors or lawyers.

Use it when ordering food at a restaurant.

It is the standard for talking to shop assistants.

Always use it with the police or government officials.

Basically, use it with anyone older than you.

Use it with anyone you do not know personally.

Imagine you are wearing a virtual suit.

If the situation feels "suit-worthy," use Sie.

It is the safest bet for any adult interaction.

Do not use Sie with children.

They get the informal du automatically.

Do not use it with your pets.

Your dog will not care about formal pronouns.

Avoid it with close friends and family members.

Using Sie with your mom would be very weird.

It would sound like you are mad at her.

Most university students use du with each other.

In very casual bars, du might be okay.

However, when in doubt, stick to Sie.

Wait for the other person to offer the du.

This is a common social ritual in Germany.

The biggest mistake is using a small s.

In text messages, sie means "she" or "they."

This can cause a lot of confusion.

Another mistake is using the wrong verb ending.

Some learners try to say Sie kommst.

That is mixing formal and informal rules.

Remember: Sie always loves the -en ending.

Think of them as best friends who never part.

Also, do not switch between du and Sie mid-sentence.

Pick a lane and stay in it.

Consistency is the key to sounding natural.

Let's compare Sie with du.

du is for your best friend at the pub.

Sie is for your boss at the office.

du uses the -st verb ending.

Sie uses the -en verb ending.

du is only for one person.

Sie can be for one or many people.

Then there is ihr, which is plural informal.

Sie replaces both du and ihr in formal settings.

It is like a universal remote for politeness.

One word handles all your formal needs.