essay about myself in german language

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German writing tips: introduce yourself

sabine 11.2015 Allgemein 1 Comment

Learn how to write a short introduction about yourself in German. This can also be used for your Level A1 test preparation.

LISTEN to the text here (click me)

Useful Vocabulary:

Verbs (all highlighted in the text above)

• ich bin – I am

-> You can use  “Ich bin” and  add your name, your age and your job! E.G. “Ich bin Martina. Ich bin 22 Jahre alt. Ich bin Journalistin.

To say your name, you can also use the verb “heißen”: Ich heiße Martina.

• ich studiere – I study
• meine Hobbies sind – my Hobbies are

-> if you have only one hobby: “Mein Hobby ist ..”

some other hobbies: lesen, singen, tanzen, reisen, fotografieren, Musik hören, wandern, joggen,…

• ich wohne in – I live in
• in the German language, nouns, names and places are written with a capital letter*. Examples from the text: Leute, Andreas , Jahre, Berlin, Anglistik, Hobbys (plural), Sport, Sprachen.
• “ich” is only written with a capital at the beginning of a sentence, so this is not like in English. But we do use capitals for the formal pronouns “Sie”, “Ihre”, etc. For more information, please also refer to the link below.

*of course that’s not all, for more information about when to use the capital letter in German, please look here .

• the German Plural of Hobby  is “Hobbys” with a “y”
• more information about numbers and their pronunciation: see here

Now, for your own German writing practise, why not write your own introduction ! If you want a feedback, leave your introduction in the comments!

Happy studying!

One Comment on “ “German writing tips: introduce yourself” ”

Hallo, Mein Name ist Robert Longwe. Ich bin Zwei und dreißig Jahre alt und ich wohne in Hallenberg jetzt. Mein Beruf ist Klempner. Ich habe vor fünf Jahren geheiratet und Ich habe ein Kind. Meine Hobbys sind; Singen, Boxen, Musik hören Und Sport machen. Ich spreche; Englisch, Afrikans und ein bisschen Deutsch

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Self Introduction in German: Learn to Introduce Yourself in German

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to introduce yourself in a foreign language, specifically in German? Whether it’s for a job interview, meeting new friends, or simply traveling to a German-speaking country, knowing how to introduce yourself in German can be a valuable skill. In this blog post, we will explore the art of self-introduction in the German language. We’ll cover the essential components of a German self-introduction and provide you with five examples to get you started.

Why Self-Introduction in German Matters

Self-introduction is often the first impression you make on someone, and this holds true in a German-speaking context as well. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience with the language, mastering the art of self-introduction in German is crucial for effective communication and building connections. It demonstrates your respect for the culture and your willingness to engage with the locals on their terms.

Components of a German Self-Introduction

• “Ich heiße [Your Name].” (I am called [Your Name].)
• “Ich komme aus [Your Country].” (I come from [Your Country].)
• “Ich bin [Your Age] Jahre alt.” (I am [Your Age] years old.)
• “Ich arbeite als [Your Occupation].” (I work as [Your Occupation].)
• “In meiner Freizeit [Your Hobbies/Interests].” (In my free time, I [Your Hobbies/Interests].)
• You can add any other relevant information you’d like to share, such as family, favorite activities, or why you’re learning German.

Examples of Self Introduction in German

Simple Self-Introduction:

German: “Hallo, mein Name ist Anna. Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Ich komme aus Deutschland und arbeite als Lehrerin. In meiner Freizeit liebe ich es, Bücher zu lesen und wandern zu gehen.”

English: “Hello, my name is Anna. I am pleased to meet you. I come from Germany and work as a teacher. In my free time, I love to read books and go hiking.”

Pronunciation: “Hah-loh, mine Nah-muh eest Ah-nah. Eekh froy-uh mish, Zee kuhn-en-tsoo-lern-en. Eekh koh-muh owss Doytsh-lahnt oont ah-ry-bei-tuh als Lay-ree-rin. In ma-ee-ner Fry-tsyt leeb-uh eekh ess, Byu-khuh tsoo lay-zuhn oont vahn-duhrn tsoo gay-en.”

Self-Introduction with Origin and Hobbies:

German: “Guten Tag! Mein Name ist Daniel und ich komme aus Österreich. Ich bin 28 Jahre alt und arbeite als Ingenieur. Meine Leidenschaften sind das Kochen und die Musik, besonders das Gitarrespielen.”

English: “Good day! My name is Daniel, and I come from Austria. I am 28 years old and work as an engineer. My passions are cooking and music, especially playing the guitar.”

Pronunciation : “Goo-ten tahk! Mine Nah-muh eest Dah-nee-el oont eekh koh-muh owss Ös-ter-rykh. Eekh been 28 yah-reh alt oont ah-ry-bai-tuh als Een-guh-noy-uh. Mine Lay-dah-shahf-ten zint dahs Koh-khuhn oont dee Mew-zeek, bess-on-dahs dahs Gee-tahr-reh-shpee-luhn.”

Self-Introduction with Family:

German: “Hallo, ich bin Sophia. Ich komme aus Italien, aber meine Eltern stammen aus Spanien. Ich habe zwei Geschwister, einen Bruder und eine Schwester. Beruflich bin ich Übersetzerin und in meiner Freizeit reise ich gerne.”

English: “Hello, I am Sophia. I come from Italy, but my parents are from Spain. I have two siblings, a brother and a sister. Professionally, I am a translator, and in my free time, I enjoy traveling.”

Pronunciation: “Hah-loh, eekh been Soh-fee-ah. Eekh koh-muh owss Ee-tah-lee-uhn, ah-buh mahy-nuh El-tern shtah-men owss Shpah-nee-en. Eekh hah-buh tsvoy Geh-shvist-uh, ine Brud-uh oont ine Schwes-ter. Buh-roof-likh been eekh Ü-ber-tsets-uh-rin oont in ma-ee-ner Fry-tsyt ray-zuh eekh gehr-nuh.”

Self-Introduction with Travel Interests:

German: “Guten Abend! Ich bin Luca und komme aus der Schweiz. Reisen ist meine Leidenschaft, und ich habe schon viele Länder besucht. Beruflich arbeite ich im Bereich des Tourismus.”

English: “Good evening! I am Luca and come from Switzerland. Traveling is my passion, and I have visited many countries. Professionally, I work in the tourism industry.”

Pronunciation: “Goo-ten Ah-bent! Eekh been Loo-kah oont koh-muh owss dair Shvyts-igh. Ray-zen eest ma-ee-neh Lay-dah-shahft, oont eekh hah-buh shon fee-luh Lend-uh buh-zooh-kht. Buh-roof-likh ah-ry-bai-tuh eekh im Beh-rykh dess Too-reez-moos.”

Self-Introduction with Language Learning:

German: “Hallo! Mein Name ist Emily, und ich lerne Deutsch. Ich finde Sprachen faszinierend und möchte in der Zukunft als Übersetzerin arbeiten. In meiner Freizeit treffe ich mich gern mit Freunden und koche.”

English: “Hello! My name is Emily, and I am learning German. I find languages fascinating and hope to work as a translator in the future. In my free time, I enjoy meeting with friends and cooking.”

Pronunciation: “Hah-loh! Mine Nah-muh eest Eh-mee-lee, oont eekh layr-nuh Doytsh. Eekh feen-duh Shprah-khen fah-tsi-ni-er-uhnt oont mookh-tuh im ma-ye-neh tsvoo-khoonft ahlz Ü-ber-tsets-uh-rin ah-ry-bai-ten. In ma-ee-ner Fry-tsyt truh-fuh eekh mikh gehrn mit Fray-uhn-duhn oont koh-khuh.”

Mastering the art of self-introduction in German is not only a practical skill but also a way to connect with native speakers and showcase your respect for their culture. Whether you’re a beginner or have some proficiency in the language, practicing self-introductions in German is an excellent way to start conversations and make a positive impression.

In this blog post, we covered the essential components of a German self-introduction, and provided you with five examples that cater to different contexts and interests. Remember, the key to a successful self-introduction in German is to be genuine and enthusiastic. With practice, you’ll become more confident in your ability to engage with German speakers and create meaningful connections.

Drew is the creator of myselfintroduction.com, designed to teach everyone how to introduce themselves to anyone with confidence in any situation.

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About myself in German – sich vorstellen

Last Updated on May 3, 2024

About myself in German is the first part of the B1 oral exam. This is a relative simple task that is prepared and memorized at home. However, you should think it through carefully, imagining all the possible questions that can be asked to your text, and compiling answers to them.

Oral part of the German B1 exam. Speaking topics All b1 German speaking topics (DTZ, telc b1). Part 2 Read about German test b1 Deutschtest für Zuwanderer (DTZ). Letters 1 , Letters 2, Letters 3, Letters 4, Letters 5 , Letter 6 Dialogues for B1 test 1 , Dialogues 2 German picture description phrases and sequence Describing people’s appearance in German (Personenbeschreibung) Describe appearance of a person in German. Body and clothing Everything about the #Orientierungstest (Test Leben in Deutschland) is here.

You can buy all b1 topics as pdf-file for 7 euros. Write please your Email and “Topics EN”.

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If you forgot to write email, you can write it in a comment-form.

You can also try a automatic payment . After payment you receive a link for download.

speaking topics + about myself + picture description and German dialogues for 10 euros. Write please your Email and “Topics + dialogues EN”

About myself in German – structure

“sich vorstellen” is rather free-form, despite the fact that it has certain points that need to be covered, and as a whole it goes in chronological order. But you can rearrange these items or not mention them.

Don’t forget, you don’t have to be completely frank and honest. It’s easier to tell the truth, because you have to think only about German, and not about the legend. But if there are points in your biography that you do not want to discuss, or if you are afraid of getting confused in the language, trying to explain, omit or change them. This is a language exam, not a job application or confession.

The main rule for talking “about myself” is to mention only what you can talk about in more detail, and be sure to emphasize the interesting thing that you would like to talk more about (for example, add a sentence to this part).

If you embroider with beads and are ready to discuss it, then let them know about your hobby. If this topic is too difficult for you, then keep silent about it. The same applies to all the main points of the story. Is your specialty too difficult? Tell about it in general terms. Do you collect Lego minifigures and are ready to talk about it in any language? Don’t forget to say it. Examiners are people too, they prefer to be distracted from the routine if they hear something non-standard.

In any case, you must be ready to answer questions about family, hobbies, work and plans for a future life in Germany. If the examiners do not pick up on something in your story, then they will ask a standard question on these topics.

Standard items that can be stated. With an asterisk, those that are more or less required: – *name – age – *country where you came from, how many years in Germany – reason for arrival – *marital status and children – education – *occupation and job in Germany (potential or existing) – hobbies (not 100% required, but if not mentioned, then you need to prepare an answer to the question about it) – place of residence (city * and your attitude towards it and towards Germany) – how many years have you been learning German and how do you feel about it

The approximate volume is about 15-20 simple sentences.

Mein Name ist… Ich bin … Ich heiße …

if you have difficult name for Germans, you can add: … ist mein Vorname, … ist mein Nachname (Familienname)

Ich bin … Jahre alt

Origin and reasons for migration

Ich komme aus … Ich stamme aus … Ich bin nach Deutschland gekommen, … weil ich hier studieren will weil mein Mann hier einen Job gefunden hat

Der Grund, warum ich mein Heimatland verlassen habe, ist …

Ich lebe seit … (2020, 3 Jahre) in Deutschland

Family, children

Ich bin verheiratet / ledig / verwitwet / alleinerziehend Ich habe ein Kind / … Kinder / keine Kinder

Education and professional activities

Ich bin … von Beruf. In … (meinem Land) war ich … / Ich habe als … gearbeitet Ich bin (war) als (…) tätig In Deutschland kann ich nicht als … arbeiten. Ich muss zuerst Deutsch lernen (eine Ausbildung machen, eine Prüfung bestanden, Weiterbildung machen…) Jetzt arbeite ich nicht / Ich bin arbeitslos / Ich bin Hausfrau Ich plane, mir einen Job als … zu suchen Ich habe … (Programmieren, Physik, Mathe, Ingenieurwesen…) an der Universität studiert Ich habe meinen Abschluss … (als Rechtsanwalt, in Chemie…) gemacht Ich habe eine Ausbildung zum (Koch, Maler… ) absolviert

Ich studiere an der … Universität

Mein Hobby ist … / Meine Hobbys sind … Meine Freizeitaktivitäten sind … Lesen, Klavier spiele, Reisen, Stricken, Joggen, Fahrradfahren In der Freizeit gehe ich gern ins Kino Ich habe viele Freunde. Wir gehen oft …, treffen uns …

Language learning, current place of residence, attitude to the city and to Germany

Ich wohne jetzt in … Mein Wohnort ist … … gefällt mir, weil die Stadt grün und ruhig ist. Alles ist in der Nähe. , weil ich mit der S-Bahn alles schnell erreichen kann. Ich lerne Deutsch seit… (3 Jahre). Ich habe Deutsch schon in der Schule gelernt. … ist meine Muttersprache. Außerdem spreche ich auch Englisch, Spanisch…

Ich mag Deutschland, hier ist es sicher, die Menschen sind freundlich. Ich fühle mich einsam in Deutschland. Obwohl die Menschen freundlich sind, sind sie sehr zurückhaltend Mir gefällt, dass Deutschland ein sicheres Land ist, aber es ist auch sehr bürokratisch.

Mein Name ist Max Mustermann. Ich bin 36 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus Georgien und lebe seit drei Jahren in Deutschland. In Georgien habe ich Programmieren an der Universität studiert und danach in einem internationalen Unternehmen als Programmierer gearbeitet. In Deutschland habe ich einen neuen interessanten Job gefunden. Ich bin verheiratet und habe zwei Jungen. Sie sind 3 und 6 Jahre alt. Meine Frau ist Hausfrau. In meiner Freizeit lese ich viel, schaue fern und gehe mit meinen Kindern aus. Ich mag Deutschland. Wir wohnen in einer kleinen Stadt in der Nähe von München. Sie ist sehr grün und hat gute Verkehrsanbindung. Am Wochenende können wir in die Berge fahren.

Mein Name ist Elon Musk. Ich bin 47 Jahre alt. Ich bin 2019 als Spätaussiedler aus Kasachstan gekommen. In Kasachstan habe ich als Automechaniker gearbeitet. Ich habe noch keinen Job in Deutschland gefunden. Zuerst muss ich die Sprache lernen, eine Weiterbildung machen und eine Prüfung bestehen. Ich habe eine Frau und 7 Kinder. In meiner Freizeit repariere ich gerne alte Autos. Ich habe in meiner Kindheit Deutsch gesprochen, aber dann habe ich die Sprache vergessen. Jetzt fällt es mir schwer, Grammatik zu lernen. Wir wohnen in München. Hier ist alles furchtbar teuer.

Ich heiße Elena Fischer. Ich bin 39 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus Armenien und lebe seit 2015 in Deutschland. Ich bin verheiratet. Wir sind nach Deutschland gekommen, weil mein Mann hier einen Job gefunden hat. Wir haben drei Tochter. Die älteste Tochter ist in der 3. Klasse. Die jüngeren Töchter sind Zwillinge. Sie besuchen den Kindergarten. Ich bin zur Zeit Hausfrau. Ich habe Literatur in Armenien studiert. In Deutschland braucht man meine Ausbildung nicht. Ich muss erst die Sprache lernen und irgendwelche Ausbildung machen. Ich denke, ich könnte als Erzieherin arbeiten. Mein Hobby ist Reisen. Wir haben schon viele interessante Orte in Europa besucht.

More Exam B1 Topics – #DTZ Oral part of the German B1 exam. Speaking topics All b1 German speaking topics (DTZ, telc b1). Part 2 Read about German test b1 Deutschtest für Zuwanderer (DTZ). Letters 1 , Letters 2, Letters 3, Letters 4, Letters 5 , Letter 6 Dialogues for B1 test 1 , Dialogues 2 German picture description phrases and sequence Describing people’s appearance in German (Personenbeschreibung) Describe appearance of a person in German. Body and clothing Everything about the #Orientierungstest (Test Leben in Deutschland) is here.

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LinguaJunkie.com

A very cranky language blogger dishing out brutal language tips.

How To Introduce Yourself in German: 8 Useful Phrases

Hello Junkies,

The first thing any beginner German learner needs is an introduction.

Why? Well, who are you? Why are you learning German and why should anyone care? When will you finally start speaking German?

An introduction gives you something to say right now!

So, right now, you’re going to learn how to introduce yourself in German. Check out the phrases. Say them out loud. Play the audio to hear real German. Cool? Cool.

Let’s jump in.

1. Wie heißt du? What’s your name? (informal)

Of course, the first thing you need to know is… the actual question: “What’s your name” in German? Why? Because people will ask you this. So you need to know it.

• Literal translation: What do you call yourself? (informal)
• Meaning: What’s your name?
• Pronunciation: VEE HI-SST DOO?
• The German consonant “ß” is pronounced “ss.”
• The German vowel combination “EI” is pronounced like the “I” in “island.”

By the way,  you should also hear REAL German. So, here’s a free German audio lesson from GermanPod101 – a popular German learning program. Press play and learn how to introduce yourself.

• Lesson #1 – What’s Your Name in German
• Free Lesson by  GermanPod101.com  >> click here for more free audio lessons .

2. Wie heißen Sie? What’s your name? (formal)

This is a more formal way of asking “what’s your name” in German.

• Literal translation: What do you call yourself? (formal)
• Pronunciation: VEE HI-SSEN ZEE?
• “Sie” must have a capital “S,” since it means “YOU (formal).” When it has a lowercase “s” it can mean “she” or “they.”  

Now, that you know the questions… Let’s answer it. Here are some ways to introduce yourself in German.

3. Mein Name ist _____. My name is _____.

• Literal translation / Meaning: My name is…
• Pronunciation: MINE NAH-MAEH IST …

This is a formal way to introduce yourself. It literally means: “My name is…”

4. Ich heiße ____. I call myself ____.

• Literal translation: I call myself… / I am called …
• Meaning: My name is…
• Pronunciation: EEH (h as in huge) HI-SAEH …

5. Ich bin ____. I am ____.

You can also use this alternative to introduce yourself, which literally means: “I am…”

• Literal translation / Meaning: I am…
• Pronunciation: EEH (h as in huge) bin

6. Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Nice to meet you. (formal)

You will also need to know how to say “nice to meet you” in German, right? Well, go ahead and use this phrase.

• Pronunciation: ES FROH-EET MIH (h as in huge) ZEE KEHN-NEN-TSOO-LEHR-NEHN
• Shorter version: Freut mich!

Note, that it has a shorter version that you can use (Freut mich!)

7. Ich komme aus den (place). I am from (place).

• I am from (place) .
• I’m from America.
• I’m from Germany.
• I’m from France.

8. Ich bin (age #) alt. I am (age #) years old.

Here’s how you say how old you are in German.

• Ich bin (age #) alt.
• I am 18 years old.

9. Ich bin (occupation). I am (a/an occupation).

Remember this phrase? You learned it above as a way to introduce yourself in German. For example,  “Ich bin Bob = I am Bob.” But, you can also use it to talk about your work or occupation.

• Ich bin (occupation) .
• I am a teacher.
• I am a student.

Conclusion: Your Self-Introduction in German

So, here’s your German self introduction script you might want to use.

Hallo, Mein name ist (name). Schön, dich kennenzulernen. Ich komme aus den (place). Ich bin (age #) alt. Ich bin (occupation). 

You are learning to speak and understand German, right? And you want to be understood by Germans, right? Good. And just like you, most learners out there, above all, want to speak and be understood in German. So the easy way to start speaking is…

• It’s to talk about yourself. Get that introduction.
• It’s to have a set introduction you’ll repeat again and again. Why?
• Because who doesn’t start with introducing themselves? Everyone does.

Learn to introduce yourself in German and you’ve got 1/3rd of a German conversation squared away. The rest are topics of interest and closing greetings.

Now, leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Better, yet, introduce yourself!

The Main Junkie

P.S. I highly recommend this for German learners. If you REALLY want to learn to German with effective Audio & Video lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at GermanPod101 (click here) and start learning!

[…] learn how to introduce yourself in German. — formally and informally. First of all, you must know that there are two forms for “YOU” in […]

[…] How to Introduce Yourself in German […]

Hallo, guten tag Ich bin anusha thapa. Ich komme aus Nepal bin 20 jahre alt . Ich bin lerne deutsch spreche in nepal …. #Herzlichen Dank For you guidens

Hallo,mein name ist cling,schon,dict kennenzulernen,ich komme aus den Nigeria,ich bin 17 al,ich bin student. im a beginner a learning germany,thanks for the self introduction lesson.

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41 Must-Know Phrases For Your Self-Introduction In German

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One of the first lessons you will learn when learning a new language is how to introduce yourself. Self-introduction in German can be more complex than in English. In this article, I will explain how to introduce yourself in various situations based on my experience correctly.

Key takeaways

• In this article, I summarize the learnings I went through over the years I lived in Germany.
• German can be very complicated for foreigners when learning more about the language while living in Germany .
• First, I’d like to give you some standard greetings for everyday situations .
• Second, I will give examples of how to let your acquaintance know where you come from .
• You will also learn more about situations when you get asked what you are doing for a living .
• There are two everyday situations that I am covering here as well: Self-Introduction to your neighbors and introducing yourself in German at work .
• Last but not least, I am covering how you can introduce yourself when you are a student and how to introduce others .

When is self-introduction needed?

Self-introduction in Germany is needed in various situations. Meeting (new) friends or neighbors and introducing yourself in German to them is different than in a work environment. The latter one requires, most of the time, a more formal approach.

It is also advantageous to introduce yourself properly to a new person when going to the authorities, visiting a doctor, or something similar. But let me answer some questions before I dig deeper into specific situations for you.

Is there a structure for self-presentation in German?

There is not necessarily a specific structure required for self-introduction. I am using a combination of greeting, my name, where I am from, what I do for a living, and where I live. Some of my friends and colleagues use a shorter version, especially in a less professional-related situation.

Sometimes it can already be enough. Just use a standard greeting and your name. But more on that in one of the later paragraphs.

Essential greetings for personal introduction in German

There are some basic greetings for self-introduction that I would like to tell you about based on my own private and professional experience. Depending on the state or region you live in, local differences may be that locals heavily use.

While the local versions are less commonly used in professional environments, it’s always nice to know what those mean. Since I live in the southern parts of Germany, I am very much used to “Servus” or “Griaß God” after a few years.

Still, I hardly use those because I am not speaking the local dialect properly to continue my conversation in the same way.

Informal greetings

• “Hallo” means “hello” in English

Informal locally colored greetings

• “Moin” means good morning in some northern parts of Germany
• “Tach ” has the same meaning as the greeting “Guten Tag” in north-western parts of Germany
• “Servus ” is the informal greeting similar to “hello,” used in southern parts of Germany
• “Griaß God” and “Griaß Eana ” are the locally colored versions of saying “Grüß Gott” or “Grüße Sie” being used in the southern parts of Germany.

You can’t even find these regional or local expresions in German dictionaries such as Duden .

Formal greetings

• “Guten Tag” or “Grüß Gott“ (the latter one is used mainly in Southern Germany and Austria), meaning a formal “hello” or “good afternoon.”

Greetings based on daytime

• “Guten Morgen” , meaning good morning in English
• “Guten Tag” is used throughout the day, a way to say “hello” in a formal way in English
• “Guten Abend” is only used in the evening, usually when it’s about to get dark or after 7 – 8 pm.

There is no suitable equivalent to “Good afternoon” in German. You usually say: “Guten Tag”.

When introducing myself in German, how do I say “where I’m from”?

From my experience, I can tell you that it’s not unusual to get asked where you are from. Germans usually ask that out of genuine curiosity. So if you want to be prepared for a situation when that question is coming up, let me help and tell you how to say where you are from.

If you want to mention where you are coming from during your self-introduction

• “Ich komme aus (country)” which means “I come from (country)” in English. You can add your country or the country and city you are coming from.
• In case you are adding your city, the sentence is slightly changed into “Ich komme aus (add your country) aus der Stadt (add the name of the city). The English equivalent would be: “I come from (country) from the city of (name of the city)” .

Germans usually have a pretty good geographical knowledge. Many will know about your country a bit more than just the name.

How do you say what you do in German when you introduce yourself?

As soon as the conversation get’s going, people will sooner or later ask you what you are doing for a living. If you still go to school, you can say

• “Ich arbeite als (add your profession)”. That means “I work as (add your profession)” in English.

This reflects the basic information I was asked several times when talking to friends, colleagues, people I met, and neighbors. This leads me to another topic, introducing yourself in German to your neighbors.

Introducing yourself in German to your neighbors 

When it comes to self-introduction to neighbors, the situation is slightly different. I experienced that knocking on your neighbor’s door right after moving in is not very common. But it highly depends on your living situation.

Please don’t feel offended if your neighbors next door won’t do the same right away. You might always want to mind your neighbors’ privacy. Based on three situations, I’d like to explain the difference.

Your personal introduction in German when living in larger apartment complexes

Living in an apartment complex can be anonymous, whereas rural areas can be less anonymous.

When I arrived in Germany, I lived in an apartment complex. Throughout the first weeks, I met several people that lived on the same floor. The only exchange was greeting each other by saying “Guten Tag” or “Hallo”.

After a month or so, when coming back from grocery shopping, I was asked who I was and where I came from for the first time. So I replied in the following way

• “Guten Tag! Ich bin (put in your name). Ich komme aus (put in your country and city).” “Hello! I am (your name). I come from (country and city).”

If you want to be more precise about where you live within the complex during your self-introduction, you may add the floor of your apartment. You can add

• “Ich wohne im (number of your floor) Stock).” “I am living on floor number …”

As a side note: In German, the ground floor is called “Erdgeschoß” and the first floor is called “erster Stock”. In the US and other countries, the ground floor is already the first floor, while the “erste Stock” is already the second floor. This might cause some confusion, so be careful with it.

Self-introduction when living in smaller apartment complexes in Germany

If you move to a smaller apartment house with only a few apartments, people may appreciate your introduction to German after a few days. You may either have a quick chat with people when you meet them in front of their apartment or hallway.

In situations like that, you can use a short version like

• “Hallo! Ich bin (put in your name) und wohne im (number of your floor) Stock“. “Hello! I am (your name) and live on floor number X (number of your floor).”

How to present yourself in rural areas with single houses

Self-introduction in a rural area in Germany might be very different from that. It can happen that you either get asked by some direct neighbors right on the day of moving in where you are coming from and who you are. Others may wait to see you, for example doing your chores in the garden, and ask you then.

It may also be helpful to go to your neighbors and introduce yourself in German as soon as you see them on the weekend in their garden or front of their house.

You may use a variation of the standard phrase and say

• “Guten Tag, ich bin (put in your name). Ich bin kürzlich hier eingezogen und möchte mich kurz bei Ihnen vorstellen“. This means in English: “Hello, I am (put in your name). I recently moved here and would like to introduce myself to you”.

What I experienced, in general, is that people are warming up faster in rural areas, and the conversations can go more deeply soon after.

Self-introduction at work

The work environment can be more formal in Germany, depending on the company. From one of my neighbors who works in a marketing agency, I know they are less formal and use the informal “Du” right from the start.

In my company, it’s more common to use the formal “Sie” in German at the beginning until you get to know each other better. I switched to “Du” with my colleagues after a few weeks. I was asked whether it would be ok for me to use the informal “Du” with questions like

• “Ist es in Ordnung, wenn wir uns dutzen?” In English: „is it ok to use the informal you?”

Here is one additional piece of advice: be mindful of hierarchy and age in Germany. For example, I am still using the “Sie” with my boss. It is common for older people to offer you the “Du” whereas you can offer younger ones the “Du” first.

A formal question you may use is

• “Darf ich Ihnen das Du anbieten?”. This means in English, „may I offer using „Du“ to you?”

This is how you introduce yourself in German professionally

To introduce yourself in German professionally, you should stick to the most common form and say:

• “Guten Tag! Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Mein Name ist (put in your name).“ This means, „Good day! I am happy to meet you. My name is (put in your name)”.
• “Guten Tag! Darf ich mich bei Ihnen vorstellen? Ich heiße (put in your name).“ This is the even more polite version of the phrase used above, meaning whether it would be ok to introduce yourself to your acquaintance or not. In English, this means “Good day! May I introduce myself? My name is (put in your name).”.

Introducing yourself in a German Business Meeting

Again, business meetings follow a different process. If there are new people in the room who haven’t met each other, a quick round of introduction is quite common. Your introduction could be similar to the following as an example:

• Guten Tag zusammen! Ich freue mich, Sie alle kennenzulernen. Mein Name ist (put in your name). Ich arbeite als (put in your title) für (put in the company name) in der Abteilung (use the name of the department). The English equivalent for this kind of introduction would be: “Hello, all! I am happy to meet you. My name is (put in your name). I work as a (put in your title) with (add the name of the company) in the department (put in the department).”
• Many also add the following phrases to the one above: “Ich arbeite seit (number of years) Jahren für (name of company). Davor habe ich (number of years) für (name of previous company) als (job title) gearbeitet.” “I work for (name of company) for (number of years) years. Before that, I worked for (number of years) years for (name of previous company) as a (job title).”

Introducing yourself in German as a student

Self-introduction as a student can be slightly different depending on whether you are still attending school, studying at a university, or are in your apprenticeship.

• “Ich bin Schüler” ( meaning I am a “pupil/student” ).
•   “Ich bin Student und studiere (add your subject)” meaning “I am a student, and I am studying (add your subject)” ) if you are studying at a university.
• If you are still in your apprenticeship, the best way to respond is “Ich mache eine Ausbildung als (your subject matter)”. “I am doing my apprenticeship as a (your subject matter)” .

How to introduce others in German?

If you are in the situation to introduce others in German, you may use one of the following phrases:

Introduction in German of your siblings

• “Das ist meine Schwester (put in her name)“ “This is my sister (her name)”
• “Das ist mein Bruder (put in his name)“ “That’s my brother (his name)”
• The plural versions for the two above are: “Das sind meine Schwestern (name of first sister) und (name of second sister)” “Das sind meine Brüder (name of first brother) and (name of second brother)” Or if you have mixed siblings, you have to use: “Das sind meine Geschwister (name of sister) und (name of brother)”

How to introduce your kids in German?

• If you are a father or mother and you’d like to introduce your daughter or son, please use the following: Das ist meine/unsere Tochter (name of your daughter)” Das ist mein/unser Sohn (name of your son)” “mein/meine” is used if you if it’s only you meeting someone. If you are with your spouse, you should use “unser/unsere” .
• If you have more than two kids, please use the following: Das sind meine/unsere Söhne (name of first son) und (name of second son)” Das sind meine/unsere Töchter (name of first daughter) und (name of second daughter)”. With two mixed kids, you may say: “Das ist meine/unsere Tochter (name of daughter) und mein/unser Sohn (name of son)”.

Parents introduction in German

• “Das ist meine Mutter (put in your mothers name)“
• “Das ist mein Vater (put in your father‘s name)“

How to introduce your friends in German?

• „Das ist mein Freund (male)/meine Freundin (female) (put in his/her name)”
• There is a more polite version of introducing a friend “Darf ich Dir meinen Freund/meine Freundin (put in his/her name) vorstellen?”

Introducing your superiors in German

• A formal version of introducing your boss in a work environment would be: “Ich möchte Ihnen gerne meinen Chef, Herrn (put in his last name) vorstellen“. Or alternatively: “Ich möchte Ihnen gerne meine Chefin, Frau (put in her last name) vorstellen“.

Self-introduction in Germany can be challenging depending on the setting you have to introduce yourself or someone to an acquaintance. This wasn’t very clear initially, but I hope I can provide you with a good guideline with this article.

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24 German Essay Phrases

We need to talk about your German essays.

Essay writing is a skill that you can learn in any language.

All you need is to brush up your vocabulary and follow a few simple strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to writing your first masterpiece.

This post will provide you with a list of useful German words and phrases to include in your next essay, plus the different types of German essays, a few writing strategies and even a sample essay at the end. 

German Essay Phrases

General explaining, ordering facts and ideas, demonstrating contrast, expressing your opinion, summarizing and concluding, what are german essays like, the different types of german essays, how to write an essay in german in 4 steps, 1. write down a list of words , 2. do your research, 3. make an outline using transition words, 4. write directly in german, an example of a german essay, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Let’s start with the words and phrases themselves. As you’ll see, they’re grouped according to how and when you’ll use them. Let’s start off with some that will help you explain your arguments.

1. Weil (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, weil er morgen einen Test hat.

(Daniel has to study because he has a test tomorrow.)

2. Da (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, da er morgen einen Test hat.

3. Denn (Because)

Daniel muss lernen, denn er hat morgen einen Test.

(Daniel has to study because tomorrow he has a test.)

A quick note: Weil, da and denn are generally interchangeable. Keep in mind though that denn requires a different word order.

4. Damit (In order to; So that)

Lisa lernt viel, damit sie den Test besteht.

(Lisa is studying a lot in order to pass the test.)

5. Um (To; In order to)

Lisa lernt viel, um den Test zu bestehen.

(Lisa is studying a lot to pass the test.)

6. Im Grunde (Basically; Fundamentally)

Im Grunde ist Deutsch keine schwierige Sprache.

(Fundamentally, German is not a difficult language.)

7. Eigentlich (Actually)

Eigentlich ist Deutsch nicht so schwierig, wie es scheint.

(Actually, German is not as difficult as it seems.)

8. Ein Beispiel anführen  (To give an example)

Ich möchte ein Beispiel anführen .

(I would like to give an example.)

9. Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass… (This example shows that…)

Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass das Lernen einer Fremdsprache beim Reisen viele Vorteile hat.

(This example shows that studying a foreign language has many advantages when traveling.)

10. Erstens… zweitens… (Firstly… secondly…)

Erstens kann man sich auf Reisen besser verständigen und zweitens lernt man viele neue Leute kennen.

(Firstly, you can communicate better while traveling, and secondly, you meet many new people.)

11. Das Wichtigste ist…  (T he most important thing is…)

Das Wichtigste ist , die Angst vor der Sprache zu verlieren.

(The most important thing is to lose your fear of the language.)

12. Außer dem (Furthermore)

Außerdem kann man beim Reisen seine Sprachkenntnisse verbessern.

(Furthermore, you can improve your language knowledge while traveling.)

13. Nicht nur… sondern auch…  (Not only… but also…)

Nicht nur im Unterricht, sondern auch im Alltag kann man viel Deutsch lernen.

(Not only in class, but also in everyday life you can learn a lot of German.)

14. Obwohl (Even though)

Obwohl Anna viel lernt, hat sie Probleme mit der deutschen Grammatik.

(Even though Anna studies a lot, she has problems with German grammar.)

15. Allerdings (However)

Anna lernt gerne Deutsch, allerdings hat sie Probleme mit der Grammatik.

(Anna enjoys studying German; however, she has problems with the grammar.)

16. Trotz   (Despite)

Trotz ihrer Probleme mit der Grammatik lernt Anna gerne Deutsch.

(Despite her problems with German grammar, Anna enjoys studying German.)

17. Im Vergleich zu (In comparison to)

Im Vergleich zu Russisch ist Deutsch eine einfache Sprache.

In comparison to Russian, German is an easy language.

18. Im Gegensatz zu (In contrast to; Unlike)

Im Gegensatz zu Anna lernt Paul gerne neue Vokabeln.

Unlike Anna, Paul enjoys learning new vocabulary.

19. Meiner Meinung nach (In my opinion)

Meiner Meinung nach sollte jeder eine Fremdsprache lernen.

(In my opinion, everybody should study a foreign language.)

20. Ich bin der Ansicht, dass…  (I believe that…)

Ich bin der Ansicht, dass jeder eine Fremdsprache lernen sollte.

(I believe that everybody should study a foreign language.)

21. Ich finde es schade, dass…  (I think it’s a pity that…)

Ich finde es schade, dass die Schulen keine anderen Fremdsprachen unterrichten.

(I think it’s a pity that schools don’t teach other foreign languages.)

22. Alles in Allem (Overall)

Alles in allem ist Deutsch nicht so schwierig, wie es scheint.

(Overall, German isn’t as difficult as it seems.)

23. Im Großen und Ganzen (Overall)

Im Großen und Ganzen ist Deutsch keine schwierige Sprache.

(Overall, German isn’t a difficult language.)

24. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass…  (In summary, it can be said that…)

Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass Sprachen beim Reisen sehr hilfreich sein können.

(In summary, it can be said that languages can be very helpful when traveling.)

Ok, let’s get a little deeper into the actual essays themselves. How do they compare to the essays that you’re probably used to writing?

• They have a similar structure to English essays. Remember how English essays have a beginning, middle and end? Good news: German essays contain those same parts. When you’re writing a German essay, you’ll want to include an opening paragraph with your argument, three supporting paragraphs that further your argument and a conclusion. German and English are often surprisingly similar, and essay structure is no exception.
• German essays are more to the point. Although German essays and English essays are structured similarly, German essays—just like German speakers—tend to be more blunt and to the point. You won’t need to dance around your conclusions or obfuscate in German: just say what you mean.
• German punctuation is different. Germans have different rules for punctuation than English speakers. For example, Germans introduce a direct quote with a colon instead of a comma. They use quotes instead of italics for the names of books, movies and newspapers. And they set off relative clauses beginning with dass (that) with a comma, unlike in American English. Understanding these differences between English and German punctuation will ensure you don’t give yourself away as a non-native speaker through punctuation marks alone!

Before you get started on your essay, make sure you know what type of essay you’re going to write. If it’s a school essay, be sure to read and understand the instructions.

Here are a few notes about the most common kinds of essays in German.

• An Erzählung  is a narrative essay that tells a story. Your teacher might give you some keywords or pictures and ask you to create a story around it. An Erlebniserzählung (“experience story”) is about a personal experience and can be written in the first person.
• An Erörterung is an argumentative essay, a writing piece meant to persuade someone to think the way you do. This writing genre requires you to investigate your topic well and provide evidence to prove your point.
• In a Nacherzählung you summarize and recount a book, a film or an article you have read, from an objective perspective. Depending on the essay instructions, you might be asked for your personal opinion in the conclusion.

Are you ready to start writing? Use these four strategies to wow your teachers and write the perfect German essay.

You should look at any new activity as an opportunity to learn and master new vocabulary . Instead of using the same words that you use in your everyday German speech, use this essay as an opportunity to introduce new words into your German lexicon.

Besides, incorporating academic words that help you craft and shape your argument can make your essay sound more professional and polished. So before you start writing, write down a list of the German words you’d like to incorporate in your essay.

As with everything else, you should look at the research portion of the essay-writing process as an opportunity to learn more about Germany—this time, about German culture, history , politics or travel .

Chances are if you’re writing your essay for a language-learning class, you’ll be assigned a topic pertaining to one of these aspects of German life, so use this as a chance to learn more about Deutschland.

For example, Deutsche Welle offers information and resources about German history. Other newspapers such as Berliner Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung offer another perspective on politics and daily life in Germany.

There’s nothing clunkier than an essay that doesn’t flow naturally from one point to the next. Besides, thinking about how your arguments and points interact with each other will help you organize your essay and make sure you get your point across. (Do they support each other? Counter each other? How exactly do they function to further your argument?)

Examples of transition words:

• Vorher (prior)
• zur gleichen Zeit (at the same time)
• dann (then)
• trotzdem (nevertheless)
• noch (still)

Writing an essay in English and then translating it into German often results in stilted, poorly formed sentences and unnatural constructions.

For example, remember that German word order is different from English. If you write “He didn’t read the book,” a one-to-one literal translation would be Er hat gelesen nicht das Buch . But the correct translation is actually  Er hat nicht das Buch gelesen. In this example, translating word for word leads to errors.

There’s another, less tangible reason why it’s not a good idea to write in English and translate to German. Sure, you could just remember that you need to change the word order when translating into German. But isn’t it better to adapt your brain so that German word order seems fluid and natural?

Learning to think and write off-the-cuff in German is an essential step towards fluency, and devising sentences in German, instead of sentences in translation, will help you learn to do that.

One good way to learn to think in a language is to hear it spoken in natural contexts. You can hear German spoken naturally in German language TV shows , movies and YouTube videos .

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Listening to German spoken at a natural speed and native accent will help get you thinking in the language in real time. This will help get you to the point where you can come up with your own sentences in German, rather than thinking in English sentences first and then translating them in your head before you speak or write. That will greatly improve your speed and fluency when writing in German.

So, simply start writing the essay in German. Look up any words you’re not sure of and double-check any grammatical constructions that you’re not familiar with. After you finish writing, ask a German-speaking friend to look over the essay to make sure it sounds natural.

Now that we’ve explored strategies and phrases for writing top-notch German essays, let’s take a look at an example.

World War I doesn’t get as much coverage in the States as World War II (where it was more directly involved). But for Europe, World War I was a devastating example of the dangers of modern technological warfare and the horrors of violence.

Let’s take a look at an example opening paragraph and outline of an essay about the effect of World War I on German government and life.

Opening paragraph:

Der Erste Weltkrieg war ein totaler Krieg, der Deutschland völlig veränderte. Dieser Krieg hat 1914 angefangen, und 1918, als der Krieg zu Ende kam, waren die deutsche Gesellschaft, Regierung und Kultur nicht mehr erkennbar. Am Anfang hat der Erste Weltkrieg altväterliche Ideen und Systeme verstärkt. Am Ende hat dieser Krieg dagegen diese altväterlichen Dinge zerstört.

(The First World War was a total war that completely changed Germany. This war began in 1914 and in 1918, when the war came to an end, German society, government and culture were no longer recognizable. At the beginning, the First World War strengthened old-fashioned ideas and systems. However, by the end, this war destroyed these old-fashioned things.)

Notice that this opening paragraph is not very different at all from the first paragraph of an English essay. You can use the same structure you’ve always used to write your German essay, leaving you free to focus on grammar and vocabulary.

Notice also the use of phrases such as Am Anfang (at the beginning) and Dagegen (however). Words like these can help you make a point and counterpoint in your opening paragraph (or anywhere in your essay, for that matter).

I. Am Anfang (at the beginning):

– Dieser Krieg hat Deutschland vereint . (This war united Germany.) – Menschen hatten ein patriotisches Gefühl. (People had a patriotic feeling.) – Menschen dachten, dass der Krieg bald zu Ende kommen würde. (People thought that the war would soon come to an end.)

Notice that these points employ words like dachten (thought). Written German often relies on Präteritum , a form of the past tense that’s rarely used in spoken Deutsch. It’s often called “literary past tense” for this reason. Check out this guide to the Präteritum to include this tense in your essay.

II. Andrerseits (on the other hand):

– Bald gab es kein Essen mehr . (Soon there was no more food.) – Menschen wurden krank und desillusioniert . (People became sick and disillusioned.) – Es gab Proteste und Unruhen. (There was protest and unrest.)

Like in an English essay, your second and third paragraphs can include supporting points or counterpoints that contribute to the overall theme of your piece. The word Andrerseits (on the other hand) is an ideal transition word to show that you’re moving into another section of your essay.

Also notice that this essay will rely on vocabulary words that the average language learner might not have come across in his or her learning. After all, who learns the words for “disillusioned” and “unrest” in their intermediate German class? But don’t be daunted by the fact that your essay might include eclectic vocabulary. Instead, use this as an opportunity for more learning.

III. zum Schluss (in conclusion):

– Der Kaiser hat abgedankt . (The Emperor abdicated.) – Eine Republik wurde geboren. (A Republic was born.) – Die alten Werte waren weg. (The old values were gone.)

Once again, abgedankt (abdicated) is an example of the literary past tense (and an example of a word that you probably haven’t come across in your previous German studies!)

IV. Schließlich (finally)

– Der Erste Weltkrieg hat Deutschland verändert . (The First World War completely changed Germany.)

Again, like in an English essay, you should use this paragraph to summarize your main point.

Feeling a bit more confident about your next German essay now?

Just make a great essay plan, write down some new words and phrases that you want to include and off you go!

By sprinkling these bits of flair into your German essays, you’re sure to make your writing better and more effective.

Enjoy writing!

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Lesson 11: How To Introduce Yourself In German

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Vocabulary taught in this lesson:

Want to learn more German? Find the previous lesson here and your next lesson here . You can also find all our lessons here .

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By elsa meyer.

Elsa was born in Germany before moving to the US as a kid. She spent many summers exploring Germany and hanging out with her grandparents before moving back to Germany for university. Elsa has a degree in German history and language. She enjoys sharing her love of her native country with others who want to explore it too! She particularly loves exploring the Rhine Valley and the Black Forest.

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Introductions in German: 25 Easy Ways to Introduce Yourself

• 'My Name is…'

The more time you spend in German speaking countries, or just learning German, the more people you’ll meet. Some situations will require introductions in German, and some won’t. For those times when you need to introduce yourself, this post is for you.

There are many different ways to introduce yourself. Some introductions may be shorter, and some may take longer and be more involved, for example if you’re meeting some friends of friends, or if you’re starting a conversation with a new language exchange partner.

After reading this post you will know:

• How to introduce yourself and someone else in German
• The differences between introducing yourself formally and informally
• How formal and informal introductions in German sound with example conversations

When to Use Formal & Informal German

Before we get started, an important feature of German is it’s use of the 2 words for ‘you’. In German we can say either Sie or du , both meaning ‘you’. However Sie is used for formal situations and du is for informal situations.

It’s important to know the difference because later on when we talk about introductions in German, you need to know which pronoun to use. Let’s take a quick look:

Sie = Formal ‘You’

As I alluded to before, Sie / Ihnen is reserved for formal situations. When introducing yourself in meetings, speaking with new work colleagues or meeting new people who are older than you, use Sie . You would also use it for speaking with people you don’t know in more casual settings like when speaking to waiters or shop staff.

Du = Informal ‘You’

Du / dich is the informal pronoun. Use it whenever introducing yourself to people your own age of younger in informal situations for example when a friend is introducing you to one of their friends.

If you want to learn more check out my post: Sie or Du in German: When to Use Formal & Informal German .

Ready to finally master German sentence structure?

Download your German Sentence Structure Cheat Sheet  for just $1 and get your sentences to flow naturally.

Introductions in German: How to Introduce Yourself

The great thing about introductions in German is that they follow the same basic pattern as in English. You start with a greeting, then a ‘nice to meet you’ and ‘my name is…’

All of these introduction phrases have their own posts which go into more detail about all the ways you can say them, so I’d recommend going through each post to further your knowledge on each phrase. You’ll find links to each post as you go along.

‘Hello’

Let’s start the introduction with a simple German greeting , for most situations a simple hallo (hello) will be fine in both formal and informal situations.

If you want to sound a bit more formal you can opt for guten Morgen (good morning), guten Tag (good day / afternoon) or guten Abend (good evening).

Read more : 15 Easy Ways to Say ‘Hello’ in German

‘Nice to Meet You’

Saying ‘nice to meet you’ when you meet someone for the first time is the next step when introducing yourself in German. There are many suitable phrases to choose from but the most common is:

Quite often this is shortened to the far easier phrase freut mich which can be used in both formal and informal situations.

If someone says ‘nice to meet you’ to you first, you can respond with:

Read more : How to Say ‘Nice To Meet You’ in German

‘My Name is…’

Of course, what would be the point of introducing yourself if you don’t tell the other person your name. Again there are a few different ways to say ‘my name is’ , but the simplest and most common phrase is:

If you want to ask the other person what their name is you can say:

Read more : How to Say ‘My Name Is’ in German

At this point we could reach the end of the conversation. Germans aren’t exactly fans of small talk, so in terms of introductions in German, this might be as far as the conversation goes.

However if the conversation naturally continues, perhaps you’re meeting a friend of a friend or a new language exchange partner you might want to share a little more about yourself.

Read more : Hobbies in German [How to Talk About Your Interests]

Introductions in German: How to Introduce Someone Else

Sometimes introductions in German don’t just involve introducing yourself, you might want to introduce someone else in German.

In formal situations such as introducing someone at business meeting you can say the following + the person’s name:

For less formal situations it’s normal to introduce someone with their name, and how you know them:

Although it’s considered impolite to talk about someone when they’re standing there with you, if the person you’re introducing doesn’t speak German, it may be helpful to make that clear to the people you’re introducing them to:

So now you have all the essential phrases to introduce yourself and someone else in German. Now let’s put them all together and see some real life introductions in German:

Formal Introductions: Example Conversation

You’ve recently started a new job and are meeting a new colleague for the first time, naturally you’re keen to make a good impression and appear friendly:

Informal Introductions: Example Conversation

Your German friend has invited some people over, and you’re keen to introduce yourself and make new friends:

Sehr super 👌

Sehr brauchbar, danke

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Easy Sentences you need for Introduce yourself in German

Hallo Leute, the world wants to know about you, and it wants to be told in German. These  sentences will give you the boost you need to Introduce yourself in German and letting people know who you are.

1. Mein Name ist… (My name is…)

This is a great first sentence to know in German, it’s the logical way most conversations start.

Read Also: Introducing Yourself and Your Friends in German (Deutsch)

2. Ich komme aus… (I come from…)

This handy little phrase is used to denote your place of birth. For your convenience, here are a few countries:

• Irland (Ireland)
• Grossbritannien (Great Britain)
• Australien (Australia)
• den Vereinigten Staaten (the United States)
• Deutschland (Germany)
• Indien (India)

Note: Aus always takes the dative case, which is why you have to say “den Vereinigten Staaten” and not “die Vereinigten Staaten” when used in this phrase. Aus is also one of those tricky prepositions that can have different meanings depending on the context, so don’t be alarmed if in other sentences it gets translated as “off,” “out” or as something else.

3. Ich wohne in… (I live in…)

Here you can fill in the blank with your Wohnort (place of residence). Both a city or country would work here.

You can also say Ich lebe in … (I live in …)

4. Ich bin ledig. (I am single.)

This little sentence comes in handy both to make sure that the cute guy or girl at the party knows you’re available, and for when a German document inquires about your marital status (and there’s no shortage of paperwork in Germany).

For those already committed, you’re obliged to announce Ich bin verheiratet (I am married).

5. Meine Handynummer ist… (My cell phone number is…)

You might have deduced from this phrase that in Germany a mobile phone is called a Handy, presumably because you can walk around with in in your hand.

6. Ich studiere… (I am studying…)

Germans will undoubtedly want to know how you’re being productive in life. Note that this sentence can only be used to state what your major or subject area is, and not what you’re looking at to prepare for the upcoming test.

A few examples of how to fill in the blank

• Geschichte (history)
• Zahnmedizin (dentistry)
• Volkswirtschaftslehre (economics).

7. Ich bin ….. von Beruf. (I work as a ….)

Literally translating as “I am a ___ by profession,” it’s an important way to ensure a native that you are not arbeitslos (unemployed) and using up the State’s money.

Since the truth matters less than practicing the language, feel free to choose any of the following:

• Maurer/Maurerin (male bricklayer/female bricklayer)
• Krankenpfleger/Krankenschwester (male nurse/female nurse)
• Lehrer/Lehrerin (male teacher/female teacher)
• Tischler/Tischlerin (male carpenter/female carpenter).

Note that in German you usually don’t use an article when saying what you do for a living. You literally say, “I’m lawyer” not “I’m a lawyer.”

8. Ich mag… (I like…)

How about a simple, versatile sentence that can be used over and over?

• Ich mag Pizza (I like pizza)
• Ich mag das Wochenende (I like the weekend)
• Ich mag das Wetter (I like the weather.)

Note: Mag is actually pronounced “mahk,” since a “g” takes on a “k” sound when at the end of a word.

9. Ich hasse… (I hate…)

• Ich hasse Gemüse (I hate vegetables)
• Ich hasse den Regen (I hate the rain.)
• Ich hasse schlechte Filme. (I hate bad movies.)

10. Meine Hobbys sind… (My hobbies are…)

So maybe Hobbys looks like a word that a German with bad English tried to appropriate into his language, but that just makes it all the easier to remember.

For exmaple

Meine Hobbys sind reisen, tanzen und schwimmen. (My hobbies are traveling, dancing and swimming.)

Or you can also say

Eines meiner Hobbys ist Lesen. (One of my hobbies is reading.)

If you love to listen music. You can say

Ich höre gerne Musik. (I enjoy listening to music.)

11. Ich habe …. Geschwister. (I have …. siblings.)

This is a pretty basic question that usually comes up when two people are searching for ways to keep the conversation going. You can also make the same inquiry of the other person:

• Wie viele Geschwister hast du? (How many siblings do you have?)

12. Ich bin …. Jahre alt. (I am …. years old.)

Whether choosing to be truthful or not, keep in mind that the order in German numbers is different than in English. Example: Twenty-six is translated as sechsundzwanzig , or literally “six and twenty.” This little caveat starts at twenty (when life gets more complicated anyway).

Read Also: Learn German Numbers (Deutsche Zählen) and Pronunciation 1 to 999999

13. Mein Lieblings … ist… (My favorite … is…)

German is famous for throwing nouns together and making single words of it, and here’s one example. To state that your favorite movie is “The Notebook” you would say, Mein Lieblingsfilm ist “The Notebook.” Note how “favorite film” becomes a one-word noun.

Knowing this, you can talk about your favorite food ( Lieblingsessen ), favorite sport ( Lieblingssport ) or favorite author ( Lieblingsautor ).

14. Ich lerne Deutsch. (I’m learning German.)

Not only is this one of the most impressive facts about you, but a great way to get permission to practice these sentences on someone. Explaining you’re learning German automatically covers over a multitude of grammatical sins. This verb is usually the equivalent of “studying,” since it’s also used when reviewing old material.

Some similar related words are as:

• Ich lerne Deutsch auf PlanForGermany.com. (I’m learning German at PlanForGermany.com)
• Ich lerne seit einem Jahr Deutsch. (I’ve been learning German for a year.)

If you have any doubt to Introduce yourself in German or have some suggestions for us, or even if we missed some sentences used to Introduce yourself in German to mention. Let us know by writing in a comment box. Thanks for reading Easy Sentences you need for Introduce yourself in German and sharing with your friends.

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23+ Easy Phrases To Introduce Yourself In German

• , October 10, 2023

Are you heading to Germany for travel or business? Met a new German friend? Maybe you’ll be living there? Then, you’ll want to learn how to talk and introduce yourself in German! Read this article and get to know some of the essential words and phrases to help you introduce yourself and fit right in. You can learn what are the basic dos and dont’s when you introduce yourself in German too.

You can even discover the best language learning app that has free basic lessons if you’re starting with zero knowledge. Can’t wait? Let’s learn with the Ling app !

Where In Europe Is German Spoken?

The German language  is actually a really popular spoken language (it’s  #11 in the world! ). Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are all German-speaking countries. Learning how to introduce yourself in German will help you if you visit or move to one of those countries.

We know learning a foreign language is a challenge, even the basics. So we want to help make meeting native speakers and talking to them in German a breeze. This article will teach you some words and phrases on how to introduce yourself in German, so let’s get going!

The Dos And Don’ts Of Introducing Yourself In German & Basic Phrases

Introduce Yourself In German: Dos

The most common way you’ll want to introduce yourself in German when meeting someone for the first time is  to say “Hallo!”  which means hello. People in Germany say hello to everyone, even complete strangers. It’s considered polite. 

While saying “Hallo” or “Guten Tag,” you’ll want to make good eye contact and shake the person’s hand. Keep things simple! If asked for your name, be sure to state your first and last name, as Germans are pretty formal that way.

Introduce Yourself In German: Don’ts

By all means, do not lean in to kiss anyone, and surprisingly, you shouldn’t ask people how they are doing when you first meet them. It’s considered unusual to ask about people’s personal lives right away.

Another no, no when introducing yourself in German is to make small talk. This isn’t common practice, and Germans may find this odd, especially in a formal setting. Appropriate small talk topics would be the weather or the form of transportation you used to get to the location. Just steer away from topics that are too personal.

Also, it is important to know that there are different pronouns to use in an informal setting, so be mindful of that when speaking with others other than family or friends!

Other Common Ways To Greet People In German

• Guten Morgen! Good morning!
• Guten Tag! Good day/afternoon!
• Grüß Gott! Good day/afternoon! (Used in Southern Germany and Austria)
• Grüezi! Good day/afternoon! (Used in Switzerland)
• Guten Abend! Good evening!

These greetings are typically used in formal situations, such as when meeting elders, superiors, or new business acquaintances.

If you’re greeting friends, younger people, or family members, it’s not necessary to use the above greetings. Rather you can simply say the phrase,  “Hi” or “Hey / Hey” and if you’re in Northern Germany, like Hamburg you can even say “Moin” . This is how you say hi in Germany, but if you are in Austria or Switzerland, they prefer to say,  “Servus!”  or  “Hoi !” instead.

Formal And Informal Personal Pronouns

It’s important to know that there are two kinds of the pronoun  “You”  in German to use in a phrase or question. The first one we’ll go over is the informal “You.”

When To Use The Informal Pronoun Du

When you see or hear  “Dir” or “Dich,”  this refers to the personal pronoun  “Du,”  which is easy to remember because it rhymes with “You!”‘ The pronoun  “Du”  is used when you’re talking to family, friends, or people younger than you.

When To Use The Formal Pronoun Sie

Now let’s look at the formal use of “You” in the German language.

When you see or hear  “Ihnen,”  this refers to the pronoun  “Sie.”  This pronoun is required when speaking in a formal way, such as when talking with older people, anyone superior to you, business clients, and best when meeting people for the first time.

There are also neutral ways to discuss others, which we’ll see in some examples below.

How To Introduce Yourself And Others In German

Introducing yourself in german.

After greeting someone for the first time, it’s appropriate to introduce yourself by telling them your name:

• “Ich bin (your name).” / I am _________ .
• “Mein Name ist (insert your name).” / My name is ___________ .
• While small talk isn’t common nor expected, Germans may recognize that you aren’t from Germany and may be curious to know a bit about you. Let’s look at some answers to some common questions you may be asked:
• Ich komme aus (insert country or city). / I am from __________ . [
• Ich spreche Deutsch. / I speak German .
• Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. / I speak a little German .
• If you speak English, you may notice that the grammatical sentence structure for German is quite similar. This makes it less complicated to pick up this new language. Let’s look at this example:
• Wie alt bist du? The literal translation is: How old are you?

The sentence structure is like in English: question word, adjective, helping verb, and pronoun. Here is another example:

• Ich bin Student. The literal translation is: I am a student.

The sentence structure is the same: pronoun, the verb to be, noun.

Introducing Others In German

These are useful German introduction phrases and the most common ways to speak when introducing people you know well to others.

• Das ist meine Schwester (insert name) . / That’s _______, my sister.  (neutral
• Das ist mein Bruder (insert name) . / That’s _______, my brother.  (neutral)
• Das ist meine Tochter (insert name) . / That’s _______, my daughter.  (neutral)
• Das ist mein Sohn (insert name) . / That’s _______, my son.  (neutral)
• Das ist meine Mutter (insert name) . / That’s _______, my mother.  (neutral)
• Das ist mein Vater (insert name) . / That’s _______, my father.  (neutral)
• Das ist mein Freund (insert name) . / That’s _______, my friend.  (neutral)
• Darf ich dir meinen Freund vorstellen? / May I introduce my friend? (informal)
• Ich möchte Ihnen gerne meinen Chef vorstellen. / I would like to introduce you to my boss ( formal
• Ich möchte, dass Sie (insert name) kennenlernen. / I would like you to meet _________(formal)

How To Introduce Yourself: Conversation Examples

Learning German will help you in basic conversations. Having these phrases and questions under your belt will get you a long way and impress your new acquaintances or friends!

German Introductions In A Formal Conversation

Introducing yourself in a formal way is quite nerve-wracking. Especially, if you’re not familiar with the language. Don’t fret. German introductions are easy as long as you remember the basic phrases to use for someone you just met. Here is a great way to practice a formal conversation for German introductions.

• You: Hello / Hallo
• Acquaintance: Good Day / Guten Tag
• You: My name is ___________ / Mein Name ist (your name)
• Acquaintance : Nice to meet you. My name is _________/ Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Mein Name ist __________
• Acquaintance : Where are you from? / Woher kommen Sie?
• You : I am from __________ / Ich komme aus ____________
• Acquaintance : Do you speak German? / Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
• You : I speak German. Are you from Germany? / Ich spreche Deutsch. Kommen Sie aus Deutschland?
• Acquaintance: I come from Germany. Pleasure to meet you / Ich komme aus Deutschland. Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
• You : You too / Mich auch.

German Introductions In An Informal Conversation

Let’s practice some German introductions in an informal setting. Remember, try speaking to mimic the sound as you press play from the audio snippet.

• You: Hi / Moin
• Other person : Hey / Hey
•  You: I am _________. What’s your name? / Ich bin __________. Wie heißt du?
• Other person : My name is _________. Do you speak German? / Mein Name ist ________. Sprichst du Deutsch?
• You : I speak a little German. / Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch.
• Other person: Where are you from? / Woher kommst du?
•  You : I am from __________ / Ich komme aus ____________
• Other person: Great to meet you. / Schön, dich kennenzulernen.
• You : Hope to see you again. / Ich hoffe, wir sehen uns wieder.

Learn More Basic German

Now that you know how to introduce yourself in German, start learning German today with the Ling app , the best language app out there today! Choose the German language course or choose from over 60 other languages. Learn basic German phrases in just 15 minutes or less a day so you’ll feel confident when you talk to Germans.

Learning German with Ling is fun ! You’ll learn how to speak, read, and write in German with ease. Go ahead and check it out on the Play Store or App Store right now! We know you’ll find it easy to learn with Ling .

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Introducing yourself in German? This is how Germans do it!

Hallo, wie heißt du? (Hello, what is your name?)

I’m sorry I don’t understand German very well. Again, please.

To be prepared when coming to Deutschland (Germany) or to be able to talk to a cutie, you have to know how to introduce yourself.

Ich bin Spring German Lehrerin Denisa und hier ist die erste Option: (I’m Spring German teacher Denisa and here is your first option:)

1. Mein Name ist… (My name is…)

Hallo. Nett dich kennenzulernen. Wie heißt du? (Hello. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?)

    Hi. Mein Name ist Denisa. Und wie heißt du? (Hi. My name is Denisa. And what is your name?)

  Mein Name ist Vanessa. (My name is Vanessa.)

When introducing yourself, usually you would start with a greeting. Here are some examples:

• Hallo (Hello)
• Guten Tag (Good afternoon)

Now you’ve learned the chunk Mein Name ist… (My name is…) but using it over and over again can be boring right? Instead of saying “Mein Name ist..” (my name is..) all the time, you can also say “Ich bin…” (I am…) which is way easier.

What are chunks you ask? Chunks are word combinations that natives use all the time and that you can learn by heart as a whole. Get the most important German chunks you need for a conversation in our German essential chunking kit. The link is in the description.

Guys, before we continue, at the end of this video I’ll cover two extra chunks that will help you continue your introduction by telling your age and where you from.

2. Ich bin…

Ich bin Denisa. Und wie heißt du? (I am Denisa. And what is your name?)

Ich bin Vanessa. (I am Vanessa.)

Now it’s your turn! I’ll introduce myself and then you can introduce yourself. Alright? Ready?

Hallo. Mein Name ist Denisa. Und wie heißt du? (Hello, my name is Denisa. And what is your name?)

3. Ich heiße… (My name is…)

Our next alternative is Ich heiße… (My name is…). Let’s do it together again. “

Ich heiße Denisa und wie heißt du? (My name is Denisa and what is your name?)

Ich heiße…

Now that you can introduce your name, let’s start speaking about age:

4. Ich bin… Jahre alt (I’m … years old)

Ich bin Vanessa. Wie alt bist du? (I’m Vanessa. How old are you?)

Ich bin 23 Jahre alt. Und wie alt bist du? (I’m 23 years old. And how old are you?)

Ich bin 24 Jahre alt. (I’m 24 years old.)

By using the chunk Ich bin … Jahre alt (I’m … years old) you tell the person how old you are. Now let’s continue by asking about the origin:

5. Ich komme aus… (I’m from…)

Woher kommst du? (Where are you from?)

Ich komme aus den USA. Und du? (I’m from the United States. And you?)

Ich komme aus Deutschland. (I’m from Germany.)

Ich komme aus… (I’m from…) means “I’m from…”.

Great! M al sehen, was wir bis jetzt gelernt haben! (Let’s see what we’ve learned so far)

Before we put it all together, you can introduce yourself in the comments, in German of course! I can’t wait to get to know you guys.

6. A full first conversation

Hallo. Wie heißt du? (Hello. What’s your name?)

Hi. Mein Name ist Denisa. Und wie heißt du? (Hi. My name is Denisa. And what’s your name?)

Mein Name ist Moritz. Wie alt bist du? (My name is Moritz. How old are you?)

Ich bin 23 Jahre alt. Und du? (I’m 23 years old. And you?)

Cool. Ich bin 24 Jahre alt. (Cool. I’m 24 years old.)

Ich komme aus Deutschland. Und du? (I’m from Germany. And you?)

Ich komme aus den USA. (I’m from the US.)

Studying "German as a foreign language and intercultural communication" and giving German lessons, Denisa is not only a pro in German grammar but also familiar with teaching young adults. As a daughter of two immigrants, she had to learn how to communicate between cultures at a young age. With her mom she speaks Slovakian, with her dad Turkish, in university English and French and at home German. Speaking 5 languages, she really is a polyglot! Besides learning and speaking languages, she is also an actress.

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Introduction in german (talking about yourself)

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Lesson outline

• 1. How to introduce yourself in German?
• 2. How to talk about yourself in German
• 2.1. "What's your name?" in German
• 2.2. How to say "How old are you?" in German
• 2.3. "Where are you from?" in German
• 3. Exercises
• 3.1. Introducing yourself in German: Fill in the Blanks
• 3.2. Introducing yourself in German: Multiple Choice Excercise

How to introduce yourself in German?

It is really important to know how to introduce yourself in German! Whether you’re meeting new people or filling out a form, there are some basics you should learn in order to be able to describe yourself! After this chapter you won't have any problems anymore talking about yourself in German! Enjoy the lesson!

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How to talk about yourself in German

Below, I will teach you how to speak about your name, age and origin in German.

"What's your name?" in German

One of the first things you do while meeting a new person is asking for the name:

How to say "How old are you?" in German

Also, you should be able to ask for the age of another person:

"Where are you from?" in German

Next, you will learn how to ask for the origin as well as for the nationality of a person:

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Smalltalk! Talking about yourself in German

How to introduce yourself and talk about your hobbies. (and our friend jens tries speed-dating).

Hold onto your Bratwürste, you're about to learn...

• How to say where you’re from 
• Useful verbs for talking about your interests
• How to say you like to do something

Poor Jens. It’s half-way through the summer and he still can’t seem to find a girlfriend. So his friend suggests he try a local speed-dating event. 

He just has to show up, talk to each woman for two minutes, and decide if any of them seem like a good match. 

He decides it’s worth a try, but he’s going to need some help planning what to say.

Important verbs for describing yourself

To help Jens prepare for the speed-dating event, you’ll need to remember that essential verb for “to be.” We've seen it a couple of times already, but here’s a refresher:

Verb: sein (to be)

It will also be important to know how to tell people your name using the verb heißen . Watch out! That's one of those weird ß characters we talked about in an earlier lesson . 

Verb: heißen (to be called)

You’ll also need to learn this essential verb for describing where you are from. 

Verb: aus kommen (to come from)

Did you see that both heißen and aus kommen use those "normal" verb endings that we talked about in our introduction to verbs ? So those endings should be looking pretty familiar by now.

Talking about what you like to do

Jens figures an essential part of speed dating should be talking about what he likes to do for fun.

In German, you say you like to do something by using the word “ gern .” ( Gern  literally means  with pleasure . So you say you do things with pleasure . Isn't that charming?)

When you use the word gern , the sentence is structured like this:

subject + verb (with the correct verb ending) + gern

Here are some examples:

Jens picks his most impressive attributes

Jens has two minutes to impress his speed-dates. Which of these lovely factoids should Jens tell the ladies? 

Read each one and then say “ Ja! ” “ Nein! ” or “ Vielleicht... ” (“ Yes”, “No” or “ Maybe...” ) to help Jens figure out which of these things he should and should not say. (Bonus round: There are some new words here — see if you can guess what they mean before you look at the answer!)

Great! Now that Jens has figured out his spiel, he just has to show up and try not to make a fool out of himself. (Come on Jens, we’re cheering for you!)

Time to meet the ladies!

It's time to hear what Jens's speed-dates have to say about themselves!  Listen to each one and help Jens decide if any of them seem like a good match.

So what do you think? Should Jens go for the rich cat lady, the friendly chess player, or the sports fanatic? Or none of the above? (You’ll have to read the next lesson to see who Jens chooses.)

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Describe yourself in German

It’s useful to know how to describe yourself in German when you’re meeting new people, speaking to an official person, or filling out a form. After this free audio lesson, you’ll find it easier to describe yourself in German .

If you’re booking into at a hotel, or going for an interview, you will be asked some basic personal questions in German. What is your name? Where are you from? What is your date of birth?

Let's check out this free lesson...

Resources for further reading: Improve your German pronunciation What you need to know to learn German

How to describe yourself in German

Questions and answers.

Let’s go through some of the most common questions you might be asked, whether you’re filling out a registration form in a hotel or at the consulate getting a new passport. In these situations, you’ll be addressed with ” Sie ” the formal form of “you.” So, though you have seen some of these questions before, all the questions below are expressed formally.

Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record

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Wie heißen Sie?

What's your name?

Woher kommen Sie?

Where are you from?

Welche Nationalität haben Sie?

What's your nationality?

Wie alt sind Sie?

How old are you?

Was ist ihr Geburtsdatum?

What is your date of birth?

Haben Sie Geschwister?

Do you have siblings?

Wieviele Geschwister haben Sie?

How many siblings do you have?

Haben Sie Kinder?

Do you have children?

Wieviele Kinder haben Sie?

How many children do you have?

Haben Sie einen Partner/ eine Partnerin?

Do you have a spouse?

Sind Sie verheiratet?

Are you married?

Wie ist Ihre Adresse?

What is your address?

Wie ist Ihre Telefonnummer?

What is your telephone number?

Wie ist Ihre Handynummer?

What is your cell phone number?

Wie ist Ihre Passnummer?

What is your passport number?

Wie ist Ihre E-mail-Adresse?

What is your email address?

When you’re responding, you can follow one of the simple formats below. Just insert the appropriate information in the brackets. When you talk about your date of birth you have to add the ending –ten to the number. For example: “Mein Geburtstag ist am fünften vierten 1984.” (05.04.1984). There are only two exceptions where the whole number changes: “ersten” (first) and “ dritten” (third).

Ich heiße [your name].

My name is [your name].

Ich komme aus [country name].

I'm from [country name].

Ich bin [nationality].

I'm [nationality].

Ich bin [number] Jahre alt.

I am [number] years old.

Mein Geburtstag ist am [day] [month] [year].

My birthday is on the [day] of [month] [year].

Ja, ich habe Geschwister.

Yes, I have siblings.

Nein, ich habe keine Geschwister.

No, I have no siblings.

Ich habe [number] Geschwister.

I have [number] siblings.

Ja, ich habe [number] Kinder.

Yes, I have [number] children.

Nein, ich habe keine Kinder.

No, I have no children.

Ich habe [number] Kinder.

I have [number] children.

Ja, ich habe einen Partner/ eine Partnerin.

Yes, I have a partner.

Nein, ich habe keinen Partner/ keine Partnerin

No, I haven't got a partner.

Ja, ich bin verheiratet.

Yes, I'm married.

Nein, ich bin nicht verheiratet

No, I'm not married.

Meine Adresse ist [your address].

My address is [your address].

Meine Telefonnummer ist [your number].

My telephone number is [your number].

Meine Handynummer ist [your number].

My cell phone number is [your number].

Meine Passnummer ist [your number].

My passport number is [your number].

Let's go over some numbers in German. This is very helpful when having to provide your date of birth, which you might have to do verbally or fill our a form.

Filling out Forms

If you find yourself being asked to fill out forms with your personal details, you won’t get the complete questions that you’ve studied above. Instead, you’ll get short words or phrases.

Nationalität

Nationality

Geburtsdatum

Date of Birth

Telefonnummer

Telephone Number

Passport Number

Why not check out some more lessons on German phrases next?

• What about describing other people in German ? Check this German lesson out.
• Know how to say good luck in German .
• Just in case you need visit the hospital in German , these phrases are always useful.

Paul Weber: Rocket German

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How to Talk About Yourself in German

Last Updated: April 25, 2023 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 25 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 132,357 times. Learn more...

Talking in German might seem harder than it really is. Focusing on some key expressions and phrases can go a long way when you're trying to communicate with a new German friend, or while you're traveling through Germany. Read on discover how to make a great impression in German.

Describing Yourself In German

• Ich bin_____Jahre alt - I'm _____ years old
• Ich bin am _____ 19_____ geboren - I was born on _____ 19_____
• Mein Geburtstag ist am _____ - My birthday is on _____

• Ich bin groß/klein - I'm tall/short
• Ich bin ziemlich groß/klein - I'm rather tall/short

• Ich habe braune/blaue/grüne Augen - I have brown/blue/green eyes
• Ich habe braune/blonde/schwarze/rote Haare - I have brown/blond/black/red hair

• Ich bin müde - I'm tired
• Mir ist kalt - I feel cold/I'm cold
• Mir ist warm - I feel warm/I'm warm
• Ich bin froh - I'm happy (about something)
• Ich bin traurig - I'm sad
• Ich bin nervös - I'm nervous
• Ich bin geduldig - I'm patient/I'm a patient person
• Ich bin ungeduldig - I'm impatient/I'm an impatient person
• Ich bin ruhig - I'm calm/I'm a calm person
• Ich bin unruhig - I'm anxious

Describing Your Family In German

• Meine Mutter - My mother
• Mein Vater - My father
• Mein Bruder - My brother
• Meine Schwester - My sister
• Mein Mann - My husband
• Meine Frau - My wife

• Meine Mutter/Schwester/Frau ist groß/klein/nett - My mother/sister/wife is tall/short/nice
• Sie hat braune/blaue/grüne Augen - She has brown/blue/green/eyes
• Mein Vater/Bruder/Mann ist groß/klein - My father/brother/husband is tall/short
• Er hat braune/blaue/grüne Augen - He has brown/blue/green/eyes
• Meine Mutter/Schwester/Frau ist freundlich - My mother/sister/wife is friendly"
• Mein Vater/Bruder/Mann ist lustig - My father/brother/husband is funny

Meeting People In German

• Guten Tag - Hello (formal)/Good day
• Guten Abend - Hello (formal)/Good evening
• Hallo - Hello (informal)

• Hallo, ich bin_______. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen - Hello, I'm______. It's nice to meet you
• Wie heißen Sie? - What's your name?
• Wie geht es Ihnen? - How are you?
• Mir geht es gut, danke - I'm well, thank you
• Woher kommen Sie? - Where are you from?
• Ich komme aus_______. - I'm from _______

• Auf Wiedersehen - Good-bye (quite formal)
• Tschüß - Bye (rather informal)
• Bis bald - See you soon

• Entschuldigung - Excuse me
• Ich möchte gern______ - I'd like to______
• Vielen Dank - Thank you very much
• Nein, danke - No, thank you
• Verzeihen Sie - Forgive me/excuse me (quite formal)
• Ja, gerne - Yes, I'd like that
• Natürlich - Of course
• Es tut mir leid - I'm sorry/I apologize

Making Inquiries In German

• Wo ist die Toilette - Where's the restroom/bathroom
• Wo ist der Bahnhof - Where's the train station
• Wo ist die Bank - Where's the bank
• Wo ist das Krankenhaus? - Where's the hospital?

• Sprechen Sie English - Do you speak English
• Die Rechnung bitte - The check please
• Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen - Could you please help me

• Ich brauche dringend Hilfe - I need help urgently
• Ich brauche einen Krankenwagen - I need an ambulance
• Ich bin sehr krank - I'm very ill

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• ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zx3qxsg/revision/4
• ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php
• ↑ https://mylanguages.org/german_phrases.php
• ↑ https://langster.org/en/blog/6-ways-to-say-goodbye-in-german/

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How to talk about myself in German?

• by Deutsch mit Leo
• 6 minute read

At school, at a new job, on the street and even on the subway, you can meet someone or even the man/woman of your dreams. But how do you introduce yourself so you don’t seem too talkative or overly secretive? What can you say about yourself in general? In what order? How to ask? If you want to learn how to conquer new acquaintances from the first words, this post is made for you!

We constantly have to meet someone and talk about ourselves, so instead of avoiding new meetings, it is better to stock up on new vocabulary and build the structure of the correct dialogue.

Name, age, the place you come from, profession, marital status and hobbies. How can you tell that in such a way that it is interesting and memorable, so that, on occasion, you can amaze everyone? Let’s figure it out together!

Where to begin?

If you are planning not just an acquaintance, but a whole “performance” where you need to conduct almost a monologue about yourself, then you can start with a small introduction:

Was kann ich über mich selbst erzählen?  – What can I tell about myself? Was könnte man über mich erzählen?  – What can you say about me?

But, as a rule, an ordinary acquaintance begins easier and you are asked “Who are you?” or “What is your name?”, so get ready to start your story all the same with the mention of your first and last name :

Ich heiße Peter Müller.  – My name is Peter Müller. Mein Name ist Peter Müller .  – My name is Peter Müller. Müller ist mein Nachname, Peter ist mein Vorname.  – My surname is Müller, my name is Peter. Nennen Sie mich einfach Peter .  – Just call me Peter. Sie können mich einfach Peter nennen.  – You can just call me Peter.

In a more formal setting, use phrases such as:

Ich möchte mich kurz vorstellen.  – I would like to introduce myself. Erlauben Sie mir bitte mich kurz vorzustellen.  – Let me introduce myself.

What comes next?

Then it is usually customary to say how old you are, where you are from, what you do. Let’s look at it in order.

Some girls are embarrassed to talk directly about their age, so you can elegantly wrap the phrase about the fact that “a lady is always eighteen”:  Man sagt, Frauen seien immer achtzehn Jahre alt… If your age does not bother you at all, speak directly: Ich bin (zwanzig) Jahre alt.  – I am twenty years old. Ich bin nicht zu alt und nicht zu jung  – I’m not too old and not too young Ich bin noch jung genug, um…  – I’m still young enough to… 

• Where are you from and where are you heading to?

Having named your city, where you come from, you can immediately add a few words about where it is and what it is remarkable for, or how many inhabitants there are if it is a big city. Here are a couple of useful phrases for this case:

• Das ist die drittgrößte Stadt Finnlands  – This is the third largest city in Finland.
• Das ist eine Millionenstadt  – This is a millionaire city.
• Das liegt in Spanien und ja, es ist echt heiß da bei uns im Sommer – This is in Spain and yes, it is really hot in summer here!
• What are you doing there?

Here you can already give freedom to your imagination and give out as much information about yourself as you want! Moreover, it all depends on the specific situation. Let’s start with the formal facts, such as place of work, position , etc.:

Ich bin Präsident der Europäischen Zentralbank  – I am the head (chairman) of the European Central Bank. 

Ich arbeite als Finanzdirektor bei einer Bankfiliale in Wien  – I’m the CFO of a Moscow Vienna.

What more can be said? Perhaps something simpler… and here I can help you too:

• Ich bin Finanzdirektor bei A.  – I am the financial director of A.
• Ich bin ein selbständiger Unternehmer.  – I have my own business.
• Ich arbeite als Kellnerin / Friseur / Taxi-Fahrer.  – I work as a waitress/hairdresser/taxi driver.
• Ich bin Hausfrau.  – I am a housewife. 
• Ich bin Student.  – I am a student. 
• Ich studiere an… – I study in… (university, institute, etc.)
• Ich gehe in die Schule.  – I go to school.
• Ich bin Praktikant bei…  – I am doing an internship in…

By the way, get ready to be attacked with different questions after talking about your profession. People will probably attack you: Where exactly do you work? How long ago did you start working? Who exactly do you work as? Do you like the job? We advise you to arm yourself in advance.

• If asked:  Wo arbeitest du jetzt?  – do not limit yourself to the name of the company, because it can say little to the interlocutor (only if you do not work for Google). It is better to immediately say general information about the company, what kind of place it is, what it does:

• Ich arbeite in / bei der Bank.  – I work in a Bank.
• Ich arbeite bei einer deutschen Firma.  – I work for a German company.

• To the question:  Welche Position hast du?  – describe your responsibilities immediately, so that you do not have to speak about it for a long time.

• Ich arbeite als…  – I work (in a position)…
• Ich beschäftige mich mit…  – I work…

• If someone asks Was gefällt dir an deinem Job?  – do not answer in monosyllables about your attitude to work , it is better to immediately give arguments why you like it or why not, for example, tell what a friendly team you have and how fun corporate parties are.

• Ich liebe meinen Job, weil ich immer etwas Neues lerne.  – I love my job, because I always learn something new. 
• Ich liebe meinen Job, weil ich so nette Kollegen habe. – I love my job because I have nice colleagues.

In fact, here the list of imagination can be long, it all depends on what image you want to create for yourself, because everything is only in your hands!

Publicly about personal

Here comes a chapter about your personal life – what you want to show off to others or what you are not ashamed to say. At first, you can say a few words about your qualities, do not be shy, but do not overdo it, do not reveal all the cards to your interlocutor at once, let your bad qualities become an unexpected surprise for him!

• Ich bin sehr schüchtern.  – I am very humble / shy.
• Ich liebe Abenteuer!  – I love adventure!

Talking about yourself, you can somehow joke, otherwise it’s all about work, but about work… By the way, check this joke:

• Ich bin eine Mischung aus Albert Einstein und Arnold Schwarzenegger. – vom Schwarzenegger das Gehirn und vom Einstein die Figur.  – I am a mixture of Albert Einstein and Arnold Schwarzenegger: I have a brain like Schwarzenegger and a figure like Einstein.
• Attraktiv, wohlhabend, intelligent, geistreich, sportlich, elegant, sensibel, humorvoll, welterfahren und erfolgreich… bin ich NICHT. Aber nett und liebevoll bin ich trotzdem.  – Attractive, wealthy, intelligent, witty, sporty, elegant, sensitive, with a sense of humor and broad-minded, successful… it’s NOT ABOUT ME. But nevertheless I am sweet and affectionate.

Talking about the marital status at the first meeting, it is rather strange, but suddenly you have far-reaching plans for a new acquaintance, then immediately say:

• Übrigens … ich bin single / ledig.  – By the way… I’m single/not married.

Well, don’t forget to dilute it saying deshalb bin ich heute hier allein . Otherwise, your interlocutor may have a feeling that you have given some strange information and what to do with it at all?!

If you already have a family, then share it needed:

• Ich bin verheiratet.  – I am married / married.
• Ich habe eine Familie.  – I have a family.

By the way, do not forget to tell about the languages ​​that you speak. To do this, you need to remember the universal phrase:  Ich spreche  or  Ich kann Deutsch/Englisch  , which means “I speak German/English”. Can you specify how good it is: gut – good, noch schlecht – still bad, nur ein wenig – quite a bit.

When you don’t want to end an interesting conversation, you can reinforce it, for example, with a hobby topic. Ask your new friend:  Was sind deine Hobbys? / What hobbies do you have?. Simply share what you do in your free time:

• Ich mag joggen.  – I like running.
• Ich lese gern.  – I enjoy reading.
• Am Wochenende gehe ich immer klettern.  – On weekends I always go climbing.
• Mein Hobby ist das Reiten.  – My hobby is horse riding.

It is impossible to predict what turn will follow such a beginning. Then you can tell as much as you like about your brothers and sisters, football – fortunately, each of us is full of our favorite activities and hobbies. So everything is in your hands!

Do you want to get your German language learning planner?

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• acquaintance
• speak about yourself

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