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Personalpronomen
Personal pronouns are words that replace nouns to avoid repetition. In German, there are more personal pronouns than in English because German distinguishes between formal and informal 'you', and pronouns must match the gender of the noun they replace.
German has 9 personal pronouns in nominative case:
Singular: - ich = I - du = you (informal, one person) - er = he / it (masculine nouns) - sie = she / it (feminine nouns) - es = it (neuter nouns) - Sie = you (formal, one or more persons)
Plural: - wir = we - ihr = you all (informal, multiple people) - sie = they - Sie = you (formal - same as singular!)
Note: 'Sie' (formal you) is ALWAYS capitalized, while 'sie' (she/they) is lowercase.
Unlike English where everything is 'it', German uses er/sie/es based on the noun's gender, not what it actually is!
Examples:
Use 'du' with friends, family, children, pets. Use 'Sie' with strangers, older people, bosses, formal situations. When in doubt, use Sie!
Examples:
When talking to multiple friends or family members, use 'ihr'. It's like 'y'all' in English.
Examples:
Capital 'Sie' = formal you. Lowercase 'sie' = she or they. This matters in writing!
Examples:
🇩🇪 Ich bin Student.
🇬🇧 I am a student.
💡 ich = I (always lowercase unless starting a sentence)
Context: First person singular
🇩🇪 Du bist mein Freund.
🇬🇧 You are my friend.
💡 du = you (informal, singular)
Context: Used with friends, family, children
🇩🇪 Der Mann ist groß. Er ist groß.
🇬🇧 The man is tall. He is tall.
💡 er = he/it for masculine nouns
Context: Replaces 'der Mann'
🇩🇪 Die Frau ist nett. Sie ist nett.
🇬🇧 The woman is nice. She is nice.
💡 sie = she/it for feminine nouns
Context: Replaces 'die Frau'
🇩🇪 Das Kind spielt. Es spielt.
🇬🇧 The child plays. It plays.
💡 es = it for neuter nouns
Context: Replaces 'das Kind'
🇩🇪 Wir lernen Deutsch.
🇬🇧 We learn German.
💡 wir = we
Context: First person plural
🇩🇪 Ihr seid Studenten.
🇬🇧 You all are students.
💡 ihr = you all (informal plural)
Context: Talking to multiple friends
🇩🇪 Die Kinder spielen. Sie spielen.
🇬🇧 The children play. They play.
💡 sie = they (plural)
Context: Replaces 'die Kinder'
🇩🇪 Wie heißen Sie?
🇬🇧 What is your name?
💡 Sie = you (formal, always capitalized)
Context: Formal question to a stranger
Masculine 'der' → 'er', Feminine 'die' → 'sie', Neuter 'das' → 'es'. The pronoun follows the article's gender!
It's better to be too formal than too casual in German culture. Start with 'Sie' - Germans will tell you if you can use 'du'.
If you're from the southern US, 'ihr' = 'y'all'. Multiple friends, informal setting. 'Ihr kommt!' = 'Y'all are coming!'
The capital 'S' in 'Sie' shows respect. Lowercase 'sie' = she/they. Always capitalize when addressing someone formally!
Weird but true: der Tisch (table) = er (he/it), die Tür (door) = sie (she/it). Gender is grammatical, not logical!
Using 'es' for everything
Don't translate 'it' automatically as 'es'! Check the noun's gender. Der Stuhl (chair) → er, not es. Die Lampe (lamp) → sie, not es.
Using 'du' in formal situations
Don't use 'du' with strangers, bosses, or older people you've just met. Use 'Sie' until invited to use 'du'. Better safe than sorry!
Forgetting to capitalize 'Sie'
In writing, always capitalize formal 'Sie': 'Wie heißen Sie?' not 'wie heißen sie?' Lowercase 'sie' means 'she' or 'they', not 'you'!
Confusing 'ihr' and 'Sie'
'Ihr' = informal you all (friends). 'Sie' = formal you (stranger/strangers). 'Wo seid ihr?' (friends) vs 'Wo sind Sie?' (formal).
Using wrong pronoun for objects
Objects need gender-based pronouns! 'Where is the book?' → 'Wo ist das Buch?' → 'Wo ist es?' (not 'wo ist er/sie').
Ich heiße Maria und du?
My name is Maria, and you?
📚 ich (I) + heiße (am called) + Maria (name) + und (and) + du (you - informal)?
Er wohnt in Berlin, aber sie wohnt in München.
He lives in Berlin, but she lives in Munich.
📚 er (he) + wohnt (lives) / sie (she) + wohnt (lives) - showing both masculine and feminine pronouns
Das Auto ist neu. Es ist sehr schön.
The car is new. It is very beautiful.
📚 das Auto (neuter) → es (it) - pronoun matches gender
Wir sind Studenten und ihr seid Lehrer.
We are students and you all are teachers.
📚 wir (we) vs ihr (you all informal) - showing plural pronouns
Die Kinder spielen. Sie sind glücklich.
The children play. They are happy.
📚 die Kinder (plural) → sie (they) - lowercase 'sie' for 'they'
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Do you speak German?
📚 Sie (formal you, capitalized) + sprechen (speak) + Deutsch (German) - formal question
Wo ist der Schlüssel? Er ist hier.
Where is the key? It is here.
📚 der Schlüssel (masculine) → er (it/he) - showing masculine pronoun for object