Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| gib mir | informal, singular |
| geben Sie mir | |
| gebt mir | informal, plural |
The phrase is used to express a preference (verb).
What does it mean word for word?
The form gib is the singular imperative of geben, which undergoes a vowel change from e to i. The word mir is the dative case of ich (I), which is required because the verb geben takes a dative object for the recipient.
Which one should you use?
Use gib mir when addressing a single person you are on casual terms with. Use gebt mir when addressing a group of people you are on casual terms with, such as friends or children. Use geben Sie mir when addressing one or more people formally, such as a stranger, a superior or an elder.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gib mir is a casual and direct way to say give me when speaking to people you are familiar with. For formal settings, such as when speaking to a stranger, a superior or an elder, use the polite and standard geben Sie mir.
Did you know?
- While mir means 'me' in this phrase, in many High German dialects and in Yiddish, a similar sounding mir is actually used to mean 'we'.
- If you are in a restaurant, you would rarely say gib mir to a waiter. Even in casual settings, Germans typically use ich hätte gerne ('I would gladly have') to express preference.
- In German, simply saying gib mir can sound like a command rather than a request. To make it a polite request, Germans often add the word bitte ('please') or use the conditional würdest du mir geben.
Examples in context
- Gib mir die Uhr.Give me the watch.This sentence is useful for requesting a specific object like a watch using gib mir.Tatoeba #6644896 by Felixjp, translation #3151464 by CK
- Gib mir ein paar.Give me a few.This sentence is useful for requesting a quantity using gib mir.Tatoeba #450591 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #250142 by CK
- Gib mir den Ball!Give me the ball.This sentence is useful for requesting a specific object like a ball using gib mir.Tatoeba #1636939 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1841172 by CK
- Können Sie mir bitte das Buch geben?Can you give me the book, please?
- 570 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are deciding what to drink.
- MaximilianWillst du auch einen Saft?Do you want a juice too?
- SarahJa, aber gib mir bitte den Apfelsaft.Yes, but give me the apple juice please.
- MaximilianHier ist er, Sarah.Here it is, Sarah.
- SarahDanke, Maximilian!Thanks, Maximilian!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “give me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sie, geben, mir, sie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
