9/17/2014 How Are You?

- Wie Geht's German

Wie Geht's German

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How Are You?

Wie Geht Es Dir?

Start Lesson Hangman

German has both a formal and informal way of addressing people. This makes asking the simple question "How are
you?" slightly more complicated than in English. You need to know which "you" to use:

• Du the informal, which takes the second-person singular verb tense, or

• Sie the formal, with a uppercase S, which also doubles as the third-person plural, equivalent to "they". With a
lowercase S (sie) it is the third-person singular feminine pronoun, equivalent to "she".

Du is used among close friends, family, and people younger than you. Sie is used for strangers - or even acquaintances -
and people older than you.

It is very important to use which level of formality to use. It can be very insulting to someone to address them
incorrectly.

To learn more about du, Sie and similar words, check out the subject pronouns lesson.

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9/17/2014 How Are You? - Wie Geht's German

Pass auf dich auf

Take care

Viel Glück
Good luck

Wie geht es Ihnen?

How are you? formal

Wie geht es dir?

How are you? informal

Wie geht's?
What's up?

Alles ok?
Everything okay?

Gut.
Fine.

Mir geht's gut.

I'm fine.

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9/17/2014 How Are You? - Wie Geht's German

Mir geht es nicht sehr gut.

I'm not very well.

Und du?
And you? informal

Und Sie?
And you? formal

Sehr gut.
Very good.

Nicht so gut.
Not well

Schlecht
Bad

Recommended Lessons

GreetingsSocial EtiquetteMeeting PeopleThe Letter ß

Tw eet Share
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9/17/2014 How Are You? - Wie Geht's German

Wie Geht's German

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