PronounA1

du

you (singular, informal)

Du is the informal singular 'you' in German, used with friends, family, children, and in casual settings. It contrasts with the formal 'Sie' and is a key part of German social etiquette.

Heard in real German videos

Lines where du was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.

Magst du auch wirklich Käse, George?Do you really like cheese, George?
Willst du das wirklich hören?Do you really want to hear that?
Und was ist mit dir, Kumpel?And what about you, buddy?

Example sentences

Kannst du mir helfen?Can you help me?
Wo wohnst du?Where do you live?
Du bist mein bester Freund.You are my best friend.
Ich sehe dich morgen.I'll see you tomorrow.

Grammar

Nominative	du
Accusative	dich
Dative	dir
Possessive	dein

Du is usually written lowercase, but it may be capitalized in letters as a sign of respect.

Common phrases

du bistyou are
du hastyou have
wie du willstas you wish
du lieber Himmelgood heavens

The mistake English speakers make

Using 'du' with strangers or in formal situations can be considered rude. Use 'Sie' instead.

Don’t confuse it with

Sie — Sie is the formal 'you' for one or more people, while du is informal singular.
ihr — Ihr is the informal plural 'you', while du is singular.

Questions learners ask

When do I use 'du' instead of 'Sie'?

Use 'du' with friends, family, children, and in informal settings. Use 'Sie' with strangers, in business, and with people in authority.

How do I conjugate verbs with 'du'?

Most verbs add -st: du gehst, du machst. Some verbs have a vowel change: du fährst, du liest.

What is the difference between 'du' and 'dich'?

'Du' is nominative (subject), 'dich' is accusative (direct object), and 'dir' is dative (indirect object).