Sie vs Du in German: When to Use Which

German has two ways to say "you": formal Sie and informal du. Mixing them up makes you look rude or, conversely, presumptuous. Let's clarify the rules.

When to strictly use Sie

• With strangers — on the street, in shops, in cafes
• With colleagues (unless you've agreed on du)
• With bosses, teachers, doctors
• With elderly people, even acquaintances
• In business letters and official documents
• With police, officials, service staff

When to use du

• With children and teenagers
• With close friends and family
• With animals and God (yes, in prayers)
• In casual youth gatherings
• At "du-friendly" workplaces (common in startups now)
• In sports clubs, hobby groups

The gray zone: peers

With peers aged 18-30 in casual settings (bar, park, concert) — usually du. The same peers at work — Sie. Between students — du, to a professor — Sie.

How to switch to du

The older or higher-status person should propose switching. The phrase: "Wollen wir uns duzen?" (Shall we use du?). Agreement: "Gerne!" (Gladly!).

Regional differences

Austria and Switzerland are a bit more liberal with du. Northern Germany (Hamburg, Berlin) — more Sie. IT companies and startups use du almost universally, even with management.

Dangerous mistakes

Don't do this:

• ❌ Use du with a stranger older than you
• ❌ Use du with a clerk or waiter (sounds rude)
• ❌ Write du in a letter to a potential employer
• ❌ Switch to du yourself without the older person's consent

The golden rule

When in doubt — use Sie. It's always safe. Better to seem too polite than too familiar. When it's clear everyone around uses du — follow suit.