Hayford Amedji-dela Anyidoho

In German, “Du” and “Sie” are both forms of addressing someone, but they are used in different contexts to show levels of formality, respect, or familiarity:

1. Du (informal)

Used with friends, family, children, and people of the same age group in informal settings.

Indicates familiarity or closeness.

Examples:

German: Woher kommst du?
English: Where are you from?

German: Kannst du mir helfen?
English: Can you help me?

2. Sie (formal)

Used in professional, polite, or formal contexts, such as with strangers, older individuals, or in business environments.

Always capitalized when referring to someone.

Examples:

German: Woher kommen Sie?
English: Where are you from?

German: Können Sie mir helfen?
English: Can you help me?

Tip: When in doubt, start with Sie in formal situations until the other person suggests switching to Du.