How to introduce yourself in German: A step-by-step guide for beginners
Title: How to introduce yourself in German: A step-by-step guide for beginners
Introducing yourself in German is easier than you might think! Whether you’re greeting someone formally, sharing your name with a new acquaintance, or talking about where you’re from, a few key expressions can help you ace your first impression.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials — with practical tips and pronunciation help. Let’s get started!
Begin with a greeting
The first step to introducing yourself is getting the greeting right. And there are a number of ways to greet someone in German, depending on the context, time of day and level of formality.
Formal and informal greetings
German has formal and informal ways to say hello. “Hallo!” is the most widely used informal greeting, and it’s easy for English speakers to remember. If you want to sound a bit more polite, you can try “Guten Tag” (Good day). In southern Germany and Austria, you might also hear “Grüß Gott,” which literally translates to “God bless.”
Examples and pronunciation tips
Here are some common German greetings along with their pronunciation:
| German | Pronunciation | English |
| Guten Tag | goo-ten tahk | good day |
| Hallo | hah-loh | hello |
| Grüß Gott | groos got | God bless (regional greeting, only used in Southern Germany and Austria) |
| Guten Morgen | goo-ten mor-gen | good morning |
| Guten Abend | goo-ten ah-bent | good evening |
Tip: German pronunciation is clear and distinct. The “r” in Morgen is either softly rolled or pronounced in the back of the throat, depending on the region, while the “ü” in Grüß Gott requires the same round lips you’d use when forming a whistle.
Say your name
‘Ich heiße…’ vs. ‘Mein Name ist…’
When introducing yourself in German, you have two options. “Ich heiße…“ (I am called…) is the most widely used, while “Mein Name ist…“ (My name is…) is reserved for business or official contexts.
How to ask for someone else’s name
To ask for someone’s name in an informal situation, use “Wie heißt du?“ (What’s your name?). When you need to sound more polite, use “Wie heißen Sie?“.
The key difference between these forms lies in the du (informal) and the Sie (formal), both of which can be used as a second-person pronoun (“you” in English). Germans take these distinctions seriously, so using the correct form helps set the right tone.
Where are you from?
‘Ich komme aus…’ and alternatives
The most common way to state where you’re from is “Ich komme aus…“ (I come from…). You might also hear “Ich bin aus…” (I am from…), which is slightly more informal.
When mentioning countries and cities, remember that German capitalizes all nouns. For example:
- Ich komme aus Deutschland. (I come from Germany.)
- Ich komme aus der Hauptstadt Berlin. (I am from the capital, Berlin.)
Asking where someone else is from
To ask someone where they’re from in an informal setting, use “Woher kommst du?” (Where do you come from?). If you need to speak formally, use “Woher kommen Sie?” instead.
How to say your age in German
Using ‘Ich bin … Jahre alt’
When stating your age in German, the standard phrase is “Ich bin … Jahre alt“ (I am … years old). You can also simply say “Ich bin 35” — it’s still perfectly clear.
To ask someone’s age, you can say “Wie alt bist du?“ (How old are you?) in informal situations or “Wie alt sind Sie?“ when speaking formally.
Cultural note: Age and formality in Germany
Although asking about someone’s age is generally acceptable among children, teenagers and young adults, it may be considered impolite when speaking with older individuals or in professional environments, where people usually don’t discuss age unless it’s relevant. If you’re unsure whether to ask, it’s best to wait until the topic comes up naturally.
Talking about where you live
To say where you live in Germany, the most common phrase is “Ich wohne in…“ (I live in…). This works for neighborhoods, cities and countries alike. For example:
- Ich wohne in Köln. (I live in Cologne).
If you want to be more specific and mention your street, you can say “Ich wohne in der …straße.“ (I live on … street). For example:
- Ich wohne in der Goethestraße. (I live on Goethe Street).
To talk about a district or area within a city, you can say “Ich wohne im Stadtteil …“ (I live in the … district). For example:
- Ich wohne im Stadtteil Kreuzberg. (I live in the Kreuzberg district.)
Mention your job or studies
To inquire about what someone does professionally, you can ask “Was bist du von Beruf?” (What’s your profession?) in informal situations or “Was machen Sie beruflich?” in formal ones.
Some common professions in German are:
- Der Arzt, die Ärztin (doctor)
- Der Lehrer, die Lehrerin (teacher)
- Der Ingenieur, die Ingenieurin (engineer)
- Der Künstler, die Künstlerin (artist)
- Der Mechaniker, die Mechanikerin (mechanic)
- Der Bäcker, die Bäckerin (baker)
Share hobbies or interests
To talk about your hobbies in German, you can use “Ich interessiere mich für…“ (I am interested in…) followed by a noun, or simply “Ich [verb] gern…“ (I like to…).
- Ich interessiere mich für Musik. (I am interested in music.)
- Ich spiele gern Fußball. (I like to play soccer.)
Notice how gern (gladly, like to) goes after the verb in this construction:
- Ich lese gern. (I like to read.)
- Ich lese gern Gedichte. (I like to read poetry.)
Ending the introduction politely
To wrap up an introduction, you can say “Schön, dich/Sie kennenzulernen“ (Nice to meet you) using one or the other pronoun depending on the formality. Alternatively, “Es freut mich“ (I’m pleased) is a shorter, cordial way to express the same sentiment.
A polite handshake is common in formal settings, while a warm smile generally suffices in casual encounters. Germans value sincerity above expression, so body language tends to be more reserved.
Bonus: Introducing yourself over the phone
Why phone conversations feel tougher
Introducing yourself over the phone in German can feel more challenging than in person because you don’t have facial expressions or body language to rely on. Germans also tend to speak directly and efficiently on the phone, making it essential to start with a clear introduction.
Phrases to use on the phone
- Hallo, hier ist… (Hello, this is …)
- Guten Tag, mein Name ist … (Good day, my name is…)
- Könnte ich bitte mit … sprechen? (Could I speak with … please?)
- Worum geht es? (What is this about?)
- Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? (Could you repeat that, please?)
What not to do when introducing yourself
While being formal in casual settings might sound overly stiff, being too informal in professional settings can come across as something far worse: disrespectful. Err on the side of caution and formality to avoid awkward encounters.
Also, try to keep your introduction simple and natural, and be mindful of personal space — Germans appreciate a respectful distance, and overly enthusiastic gestures might feel intrusive.
How do I say ‘My name is…’ in German?
You can say “Ich heiße…“ (I am called…) or “Mein Name ist…” (My name is…). The first is more conversational, while the second is more formal.
Take the leap: Introduce yourself in German
Introducing yourself in German is simple once you know the key phrases. Sharing where you’re from, your age, where you live and your hobbies can help you open the door to meaningful connections with locals!
Want to practice real-life German with native speakers? Unikcolors Media Training Institute's small group classes offer interactive learning environments to help you gain confidence in everyday conversations. Try one out and start speaking naturally!
