bist du Single?
The English phrase "are you single?" is translated into German as bist du Single?
This phrase is used to ask if someone is currently in a romantic relationship. The term Single is a loanword from English and functions as a noun or adjective in German to describe someone who is unattached or unmarried.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal version is bist du Single? For formal situations, you should use Sind Sie Single? or Haben Sie einen Partner? In informal settings, you can also ask Hast du einen Freund/eine Freundin? to specifically ask if someone has a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria and parts of Austria, one might say Hast du a Liabsle? to mean "Do you have a love?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In German, questions are formed by placing the verb at the beginning of the sentence, as seen in bist du Single? where the verb bist is placed first.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the word for a 'single' person in a musical context is feminine. This is likely because it was modeled after Schallplatte, the German word for a vinyl record.
- While bist du Single? is common, asking Hast du einen Freund? can be ambiguous. Depending on the context, it can mean 'do you have a boyfriend?' or simply 'do you have a male friend?'
- The transition from du to Sie when asking if someone is single is a strict social boundary. Using du with a stranger or superior can be perceived as an overly aggressive or intimate advance.
Examples in context
- Hallo! Bist du ledig? Person B: Ja, ich bin ledig. Person A: Das freut mich zu hören.Hello! Are you single? Person B: Yes, I am single. Person A: I am happy to hear that.
- Entschuldigung, sind Sie Single? Person B: Ja, ich bin Single. Person A: Gut zu wissen. Vielleicht können wir uns mal treffen.Excuse me, are you single? Person B: Yes, I am single. Person A: Good to know. Perhaps we can meet sometime.
- Hast du einen Freund oder eine Freundin? Person B: Nein, ich bin im Moment Single. Person A: Dann hätte ich da eine Idee…Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend? Person B: No, I am single at the moment. Person A: Then I have an idea…
- Bist du Single?Are you single?
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are talking at a party.
- MaximilianSag mal, Hannah, bist du Single?Tell me, Hannah, are you single?
- HannahJa, ich bin momentan Single.Yes, I am single at the moment.
- MaximilianDas ist ja interessant.That is quite interesting.
- HannahUnd du, Maximilian?And you, Maximilian?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Single, bist, du, CC BY-SA 4.0.
