dir
/diːɐ̯/
The German phrase for "to you" is dir.
dir is a pronoun used to refer to the person being spoken to as the indirect object of a sentence.
Which one should you use?
Use dir when speaking to one person informally. This contrasts with euch, which is used for a group of people and Ihnen, which is used for formal singular or plural address.
How does it change in a sentence?
dir is the dative singular of the informal singular pronoun du.
How do you pronounce it?
/diːɐ̯/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use dich (accusative) instead of dir when the verb or preposition requires the dative case.
Did you know?
- The pronoun dir is a direct relative of the English word 'thee'. Both descend from an ancient Germanic root used for singular second-person address.
- In German, certain verbs like helfen (to help) automatically require the dative dir, even though English simply says 'help you'.
- Using dir instead of Ihnen can be a risky social move. In some professional settings, jumping to the informal dir too early is seen as a breach of etiquette or an assertion of dominance.
Examples in context
- Ich höre dir zu.I'm listening to you.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb for listening to someone with dir.Tatoeba #6644298 by Felixjp, translation #1221628 by FiRez
- Ich gebe es dir.I'm giving it to you.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb for giving something to someone with dir.Tatoeba #6644459 by Felixjp, translation #3151395 by CK
- Ich rede mit dir.I talk to you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase for talking with someone with dir.Tatoeba #1258033 by BraveSentry, translation #1097942 by cntrational
- Ihnen möchte ich herzlich danken.I want to sincerely thank you.
- Ich möchte mich an Sie wenden.I want to address you.
- Ich schicke dieses Paket an dich.I'm sending this package to you.
- Hast du einen Moment Zeit? Ich möchte dir etwas zeigen.Do you have a moment? I want to show you something.
- Ich schreibe Ihnen bezüglich Ihrer Bewerbung.I am writing to you regarding your application.
- Ich wollte dich zum Abendessen einladen.I wanted to invite you to dinner.
- Wir wünschen dir viel Erfolg!We wish you success!
- 1102 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are talking at a cafe.
- LauraKann ich dir helfen?Can I help you?
- MaximilianJa, bitte bring mir einen Kaffee.Yes, please bring me a coffee.
- LauraSoll ich dir auch einen Tee bringen?Should I also bring you a tea?
- MaximilianNein danke, Laura.No thanks, Laura.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
