Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns tell us who is doing an action, and they guide verb endings in German. This short guide goes over each pronoun so you can refer to speakers, listeners, and others clearly.
Pronouns
The basic subject pronouns in German identify speakers, listeners, and third parties. Each pronoun is followed by a representative verb form to show how they work in context.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | Example Sentence | English Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | I | ich gehe | I go / I am going |
| du | you (informal singular) | du gehst | you go / you are going |
| er | he | er geht | he goes / he is going |
| sie | she | sie geht | she goes / she is going |
| es | it | es geht | it goes / it is going |
| wir | we | wir gehen | we go / we are going |
| ihr | you (informal plural) | ihr geht | you all go / you are going |
| sie | they | sie gehen | they go / they are going |
| Sie | you (formal) | Sie gehen | you go / you are going |
| German Example | English Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Ich sehe die Sonne. | I see the sun. | First person singular |
| 🌅 Du siehst den Sonnenaufgang. | You see the sunrise. | Second person singular |
| ☕ Er trinkt Kaffee im Morgenlicht. | He drinks coffee in the morning light. | Third person singular masculine |
| 🍵 Sie trinkt Tee am Fenster. | She drinks tea at the window. | Third person singular feminine |
| 🌇 Es wird bunt am Himmel. | It becomes colorful in the sky. | Third person singular neutral |
| 🌄 Wir sehen den ganzen Horizont. | We see the whole horizon. | First person plural |
| 🧑🤝🧑 Ihr seht die Wolkenformationen. | You (pl.) see the cloud formations. | Second person plural |
| 🌆 Sie sehen die Stadt im Abendlicht. | They see the city in the evening light. | Third person plural |
| 🌙 Sie schlafen unter dem Sternenhimmel. | They sleep under the starry sky. | Formal you (polite) |
Usage
Use subject pronouns to make sentences clear, to emphasize the actor, or when switching the focus to a different person. In German, pronouns normally appear at the beginning of a sentence in simple statements.
| German Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Ich stehe mit der Sonne auf. | I rise with the sun. | Subject of verb, first person |
| 🌅 Du fängst den ersten Lichtstrahl ein. | You catch the first ray of light. | Direct address, second person |
| ☕ Er wärmt sich die Hände am Becher. | He warms his hands on the cup. | Third person singular action |
| 🌄 Wir genießen das Morgenrot zusammen. | We enjoy the morning glow together. | Inclusive subject |
| 🌇 Sie bereiten das Abendessen vor. | They prepare the dinner. | Plural subject |
| 🌙 Sie lesen eine Geschichte vor dem Schlafengehen. | You (formal) read a story before bedtime. | Formal address |
Summary
Subject pronouns mark who performs an action and determine verb endings. Learn the basic pronouns like ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, and Sie to talk clearly about yourself and others.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025