The Pronoun “ihr” Explained Simply
Many learners in an A1 German course have difficulty using the pronoun “ihr” correctly. Instead, they often use “Sie.” But that is wrong!
Wrong:
Antonia asks her friends Tina and Henry: “Können Sie mir helfen?” ❌
Correct:
“Könnt ihr mir helfen?” ✅
The pronoun “ihr” is the 2nd person plural (informal) and is used when you speak directly to multiple people you know – such as friends, family, or acquaintances.
The pronoun “ihr” at a glance
The pronoun „ihr“ at a glance
| German | Person | Example | English |
| ihr | 2. Person Plural | Tina und Henry, seid ihr müde? | you (Plural, informell) |
Comparison with “du”
| German | Person | Example | English |
| du | 2. Person Singular | Tina, bist du müde? | you (Singular, informell) |
Comparison “ihr” vs. “Sie”
| German | Person | Example | English |
| ihr | 2. Person Plural | Tina und Henry, wohnt ihr in Berlin? | you (Plural, informell) |
| Sie | 3. Person Singular/ Plural formell | Herr Schmidt, wohnen Sie in Berlin? Herr und Frau Schmidt, wohnen Sie in Berlin? | you (Singular/Plural, formell) |
💡 Tip: Recognize the difference by the verb:
- ihr seid (plural, informal) → “Ihr seid müde, Tina und Henry”
- Sie sind (formal) → “Sie sind müde, Herr Schmidt.”
Everyday examples with “ihr”
- At a party: “Woher kennt ihr Paul?”
- With friends: “Kommt ihr heute Abend?”
- In WhatsApp groups: “Seid ihr schon da?”
Mini exercise (with answers)
Fill in “ihr” or “Sie” or “sie”:
- Guten Tag, Frau Meier. Vielen Dank, dass ________ gekommen sind.
- Kommt ___ zu Max‘ Geburtstag? (friends)
- Hallo Kinder, was macht ___?
- Frau Müller und Herr Kraus, ___ kommen aus Spanien?
- Wann seid _____ aus dem Urlaub zurückgekommen? (Thomas and Erika)
- Ich kenne meine Nachbarn leider nicht. _____ sind oft nicht zu Hause.
Answers:
- Sie (formal singular – speaking to the person)
- ihr (informal plural – speaking to the people)
- ihr (informal plural – speaking to the people)
- Sie (formal plural – speaking to the people)
- ihr (informal plural – speaking to the people)
- sie (plural – talking about the neighbors)
3 Tips to Never Confuse “ihr” Again
- Always think of friends or family → that’s ihr.
- With unknown or older people → that’s Sie.
- Look at the verb:
- ihr seid
- Sie sind
Conclusion & Practical Tips
- Use ihr only for multiple people you know (informal).
- Don’t confuse it with the formal Sie.
- Pay attention to the verb: ihr seid vs. Sie sind.
- Listen carefully in everyday life: In the bakery, café, or office – how do people speak to each other?
Your Next Step – With Expert Help
Grammar rules are important – but even more important is that you can use them confidently when speaking. That is exactly what we practice in our courses in small groups and individual training.
At SprachPassion, you will find the course that fits your daily life:
- Intensive courses – faster progress with daily practice
- Evening courses – ideal after work or university
- Morning courses (2× per week) – relaxed learning with time for review
- Individual lessons (1:1) – completely personalized, adapted to your pace
Contact & Personal Consultation
Get personalized advice – we’re happy to help you!
Follow us on social media for news & tips
Leave a Reply