Introduction

Posted on February 12, 2023  •  3 minutes  • 578 words

Talking to people is not that easy especially when you want to do that in a language you are just learning 🤓. There are some basic questions that people want to know when you are meeting them for the first time. So, let’s ask some basic questions and answer them in German. Also, understand the meaning of them in English.

There are two ways in German to speak to people, the formal way which applies to the places like Offices, restaurants, etc and there is the informal way which can be used with Friends and Family.

In this blog, we will see the questions which people normally ask while the introduction and answer them formally and informally.

Introduction:

Meeting someone new is always awesome. These are some of the question which help you know the other person better with basic questions and easy possible answers.

Note:

For YOU, there are two words which are used in different situations:

• FORMAL : Sie + verb is in infinitive form. Sie always starts with capital S.

• INFORMAL : Du + verb + st form.

Questions:

1. What is your name ?

• Formal : Wie heißen Sie?
• Informal : Wie heißt du?

Answers :

• Ich heiße Tani. ( I am called Tani )
• Ich bin Tani. ( I am Tani )

2. Where are you from ?

• Formal : Woher kommen Sie?
• Informal : Woher kommst du?

Answers :

• Ich komme aus Deutschland. ( I come from Germany )
• Ich komme aus den U.S.A. ( I come from U.S.A )

3. Where do you reside? / Where do you live?

• Formal : Wo wohnen Sie? / Wo leben Sie?
• Informal : Wo wohnst du? / Wo lebst du?

Answers :

• Ich wohne in Berlin. ( I reside in Berlin)
• Ich lebe in München. ( I live in Munich )

4. How long are you living here?

• Formal : Wie lange wohnen Sie (hier or in Berlin)?
• Informal : Wie lange wohnst du (hier or in Munich)?

Answers :

• Ich lebe seit einem(1) Jahr in Berlin ( I live in Berlin from last 1 year )
• Ich lebe seit fünf(5) Monaten in München ( I live in Munich from last 5 months )

5. How old are you ?

• Formal : Wie alt sind Sie?
• Informal : Wie alt bist du?

Answers :

• Ich bin 27 Jahr alt. ( I am 27 years old )
• Ich bin 27. ( I am 27 )

6. What is your profession? / What is your occupation?

• Formal : Was sind Sie von Beruf? / Was machen Sie beruflich?
• Informal : Was ist dein Beruf? / Was machst du beruflich?

Answers :

• Ich bin Software Ingenieurin(f)/Ingenieur(m). ( I am a software Engineer )
• Ich bin Lehrerin(f)/Lehrer(m). ( I am a Teacher )

Note: (f): Feminine and (m): Masculine

7. What are your hobbies?

• Formal : Was sind Sie von Hobbys?
• Informal : Was sind deine Hobbys?

Answers :

• Meine hobbies sind malen, trazen, küche. ( My hobbies are painting, dancing and cooking )
• Mein hobby ist liesen. ( My hobby is reading )

8. How old are you ?

• Formal : Wie alt sind Sie?
• Informal : Wie alt bist du?

Answers :

• Ich bin 27 Jahr alt. ( I am 27 years old )
• Ich bin 27. ( I am 27 )

10. How are you?

• Formal : Wie geht es Ihnen?
• Informal : Wie geht’s dir?

Answers :

• Mir geht’s good. ( I am good )
• Gut und dir/Ihnen?. ( Good and you? )