und du?
/ʊnt duː/word by word
The English phrase "and you" is translated into German as und du? in its default form.
This phrase is a question used to ask the same thing back to the person who just asked you.
Which one should you use?
While und du? is the standard form, the specific form you use depends on the grammatical case required by the preceding verb or the level of formality required.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase must change based on the verb used in the previous sentence. If the preceding statement uses a verb that requires the accusative case, such as lieben (to love), use und dich? If the preceding statement uses a verb that requires the dative case, such as helfen (to help), use und dir? for informal situations or und Ihnen? for formal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʊnt duː/
Did you know?
- The informal du is a direct relative of the archaic English word 'thou'.
- Using und du? with a superior or a stranger in Germany can be perceived as an aggressive act of over-familiarity.
- While English speakers often use 'and you?' as a reflex, a German speaker must first perform a rapid grammatical check of the preceding sentence's requirements.
Examples in context
- Ich nicht, und du?Not me. And you?This sentence is useful for showing how to use und du? when answering a question about oneself.Tatoeba #10067193 by sakslane, translation #10067195 by DJ_Saidez
- Ich bin Tom. Und du?I'm Tom, and you?This sentence shows how to use und du? when introducing yourself and asking for the other person's name.Tatoeba #10010157 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10008324 by DJ_Saidez
- Ich bin Ungar. Und du?I'm Hungarian, and you?This sentence demonstrates using und du? to ask about someone's nationality after stating your own.Tatoeba #13399989 by Waldelfe, translation #9181843 by Nylez
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are talking about their weekend plans.
- JulianIch gehe ins Kino. Und du?I am going to the cinema. And you?
- SarahIch bleibe heute zu Hause.I am staying at home today.
- JulianDas klingt entspannend.That sounds relaxing.
- SarahJa, ich brauche Ruhe.Yes, I need some peace.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (und, du) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, und, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
