German subject pronouns are used to indicate the subject of a sentence. This article covers all German subject pronouns, how they correspond to English, and includes example sentences.
German subject pronouns indicate who is performing the action in a sentence. They always appear at the beginning of the clause or sentence and determine the verb conjugation. Below is a complete list of German subject pronouns along with their English equivalents.
| German Singular Pronoun | English Singular Pronoun |
|---|---|
| ich | I |
| du | you (informal singular) |
| er | he |
| sie | she |
| es | it |
| German Plural Pronoun | English Plural Pronoun |
|---|---|
| wir | we |
| ihr | you (informal plural) |
| sie | they |
| Sie | you (formal singular & plural) |
- “du” and “ihr” are used for informal situations among friends, family, or peers.
- “Sie” (always capitalized) is used for formal situations when addressing strangers, superiors, or in professional settings.
- “sie” (lowercase) means “they” in plural form, but “sie” (capitalized) means “you” formal.
- German subject pronouns always come before the verb in a main clause.
Example Sentences
Here are example sentences using each German subject pronoun with the verb spielen (to play).
| German Subject Pronoun | Example Sentence (German) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | Ich spiele Fußball. | I play soccer. |
| du | Du spielst Tennis. | You play tennis. |
| er | Er spielt Klavier. | He plays piano. |
| sie (singular) | Sie spielt Gitarre. | She plays guitar. |
| es | Es spielt im Garten. | It plays in the garden. |
| wir | Wir spielen Karten. | We play cards. |
| ihr | Ihr spielt Schach. | You (all) play chess. |
| sie (plural) | Sie spielen Basketball. | They play basketball. |
| Sie | Spielen Sie? | Do you play? (formal) |
- Notice how the verb “spielen” changes form based on the subject pronoun.
- The verb always comes in second position in a main clause.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong pronoun form (e.g., “du” instead of “Sie” in formal situations).
- Forgetting to capitalize “Sie” when it means formal “you.”
- Confusing “sie” as “she” (singular) vs. “they” (plural) — context and verb form help clarify.
- Omitting the subject pronoun (German usually requires the pronoun unless it’s clear from context).
- Example: “Geht ihr ins Kino?” (Are you going to the movies?) — “ihr” can’t be dropped.
- In English, subject pronouns are always required, but German can sometimes omit them in casual speech.
Summary
German subject pronouns are essential for indicating who is performing the action and for verb conjugation. The table below summarizes the full list:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| ich (I) | wir (we) |
| du (you, informal) | ihr (you all, informal) |
| er (he) | sie (they) |
| sie (she) | Sie (you, formal) |
| es (it) |
- Use “du” and “ihr” for informal “you,” “Sie” for formal “you.”
- Match the verb ending to the subject pronoun.
- Practice with simple sentences to build confidence.
Which pronouns are used for informal 'you'?
du (singular) and ihr (plural)
'Du' is informal singular 'you,' and 'ihr' is informal plural 'you.'
Flashcards (1 of 18)
- English Singular Pronoun: I
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
