Learn how to introduce yourself and others in German with example phrases and vocabulary. This includes common expressions for names, origins, professions, and asking introductory questions.
Common Introduction Phrases
These are some of the most common German phrases used when introducing yourself or someone else.
Common Introduction Phrases
| German Pronoun or Phrase | English Pronoun or Phrase | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich heiße ... | My name is ... | Ich heiße Anna. | My name is Anna. |
| Mein Name ist ... | My name is ... | Mein Name ist Tobias. | My name is Tobias. |
| Ich bin ... | I am ... | Ich bin Maria. | I am Maria. |
| Ich komme aus ... | I come from ... | Ich komme aus Deutschland. | I come from Germany. |
| Ich wohne in ... | I live in ... | Ich wohne in Berlin. | I live in Berlin. |
| Ich arbeite als ... | I work as ... | Ich arbeite als Lehrer. | I work as a teacher. |
| Das ist ... | This is ... | Das ist mein Freund Max. | This is my friend Max. |
| Freut mich. | Nice to meet you. | Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. | Nice to meet you. |
| Wie heißen Sie? | What is your name? (formal) | Wie heißen Sie, bitte? | What is your name, please? |
| Wie heißt du? | What is your name? (informal) | Wie heißt du? | What is your name? |
Introducing Others
These phrases are used to introduce someone else, whether in a formal or informal context.
Introducing Others
| German Pronoun or Phrase | English Pronoun or Phrase | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Das ist ... | This is ... | Das ist meine Schwester. | This is my sister. |
| Darf ich vorstellen? ... | May I introduce... | Darf ich vorstellen? Herr Müller. | May I introduce Mr. Müller. |
| Er ist ... | He is ... | Er ist mein Kollege. | He is my colleague. |
| Sie ist ... | She is ... | Sie ist meine Freundin. | She is my friend. |
| Mein Freund ... | My friend ... | Mein Freund heißt Lukas. | My friend’s name is Lukas. |
| Meine Freundin ... | My (female) friend ... | Meine Freundin kommt aus Wien. | My friend comes from Vienna. |
| Unsere Gäste sind ... | Our guests are ... | Unsere Gäste sind aus Spanien. | Our guests are from Spain. |
| Herr ... | Mr. ... | Herr Schmidt ist Arzt. | Mr. Schmidt is a doctor. |
| Frau ... | Mrs./Ms. ... | Frau Weber arbeitet hier. | Ms. Weber works here. |
| Das sind ... | These are ... | Das sind meine Eltern. | These are my parents. |
Which phrase means 'She is my friend'?
Sie ist meine Freundin.
'Sie ist meine Freundin.' means 'She is my friend.' Note that 'Freundin' is the feminine form.
Asking Introductory Questions
These questions help you get to know someone when you’re meeting them for the first time.
Asking Introductory Questions
| German Pronoun or Phrase | English Pronoun or Phrase | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woher kommen Sie? | Where do you come from? (formal) | Woher kommen Sie? | Where do you come from? |
| Woher kommst du? | Where do you come from? (informal) | Woher kommst du? | Where do you come from? |
| Wo wohnen Sie? | Where do you live? (formal) | Wo wohnen Sie? | Where do you live? |
| Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? (informal) | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| Was machen Sie beruflich? | What do you do for a living? | Was machen Sie beruflich? | What do you do for a living? |
| Was machst du beruflich? | What do you do for a living? | Was machst du beruflich? | What do you do for a living? |
| Sind Sie hier ...? | Are you here ...? | Sind Sie hier neu? | Are you new here? |
| Bist du ...? | Are you ...? | Bist du Student? | Are you a student? |
| Wie alt sind Sie? | How old are you? (formal) | Wie alt sind Sie? | How old are you? |
| Wie alt bist du? | How old are you? (informal) | Wie alt bist du? | How old are you? |
Introducing Yourself in Details
These phrases help you go beyond the basics and share more about yourself.
Introducing Yourself in Details
| German Pronoun or Phrase | English Pronoun or Phrase | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich bin ... Jahre alt. | I am ... years old. | Ich bin 25 Jahre alt. | I am 25 years old. |
| Ich spreche ... | I speak ... | Ich spreche Deutsch und Englisch. | I speak German and English. |
| Ich habe ... Geschwister. | I have ... siblings. | Ich habe zwei Geschwister. | I have two siblings. |
| Meine Hobbys sind ... | My hobbies are ... | Meine Hobbys sind Lesen und Reisen. | My hobbies are reading and traveling. |
| Ich bin verheiratet. | I am married. | Ich bin verheiratet und habe Kinder. | I am married and have children. |
| Ich bin ledig. | I am single. | Ich bin ledig. | I am single. |
| Ich studiere ... | I study ... | Ich studiere Biologie. | I study biology. |
| Ich arbeite bei ... | I work at ... | Ich arbeite bei Siemens. | I work at Siemens. |
| In meiner Freizeit ... | In my free time ... | In meiner Freizeit gehe ich joggen. | In my free time, I go jogging. |
| Ich mag ... | I like ... | Ich mag Musik und Kunst. | I like music and art. |
These Russian phrases will help you navigate introductions and start conversations with confidence.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Pronoun or Phrase: My name is ...
- English Example: My name is Anna.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
