wie heißt du?
In German, "what are you called?" is expressed as wie heißt du?
This phrase is used to ask someone for their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase wie heißt du? literally translates to "how are you called?"
Which one should you use?
The phrase wie heißt du? is the informal version. For formal situations, such as speaking to adults you do not know, superiors or in professional settings, use Wie heißen Sie? Another very formal option is Entschuldigen Sie, wie lautet Ihr Name?, which means "Excuse me, what is your name?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal version of the question uses the pronoun Sie and the corresponding verb conjugation heißen.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Was ist dein Name? Although it is grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural to native speakers compared to using the verb heißen.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this question, a standard way to respond is Ich heiße [Name].
Did you know?
- In some traditional German circles, the shift from the formal Sie to the informal du is a significant social milestone called das Du. It often requires an explicit offer from the person of higher status.
- The informal du is a direct descendant of the archaic English word 'thou'. Both come from the Proto-Germanic root *þū, which was the standard second-person singular pronoun.
- In historical German texts, you might find the word heißen used to mean 'to command' or 'to order' someone to do something, rather than just stating a name.
Examples in context
- Wie heißt du?What are you called?
- Ich bin neu hier, wie heißt du?I am new here, what are you called?
Example conversation
Two students meet for the first time at a university.
- MaximilianHallo, ich bin Maximilian. Wie heißt du?Hello, I am Maximilian. What are you called?
- HannahIch heiße Hannah. Freut mich!My name is Hannah. Nice to meet you!
- MaximilianFreut mich auch, Hannah.Nice to meet you too, Hannah.
- HannahKommst du auch aus dieser Stadt?Do you also come from this city?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
