heißen
to be called, to be named · to mean, to signify
heißen means 'to be called' or 'to be named'. It is used to ask or state someone's or something's name. It can also mean 'to mean' or 'to signify', often in the phrase 'das heißt' (that means).
What heißen means
- to be called, to be named — Used for names of people, places, things.
- to mean, to signify — Often in 'das heißt' (that means) or 'was soll das heißen?' (what's that supposed to mean?).
Heard in real German videos
Lines where heißen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Na, du kleiner Racker, wie heißt du denn?Well, you little rascal, what's your name?
- Meins heißt Tochter von Flitterwup.Mine is called Daughter of Flitterwup.
- Wie heißt das Gemüse?What is the vegetable called?
Example sentences
- Wie heißt du?What is your name?
- Ich heiße Anna.My name is Anna.
- Das heißt auf Deutsch 'Hund'.That means 'dog' in German.
- Was soll das heißen?What is that supposed to mean?
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | heiße / heißt / heißt |
|---|---|
| Simple past | hieß |
| Perfect | hat geheißen |
| Separable | no |
| Case | nominative (for the name) |
The verb is irregular: heißen - hieß - geheißen. The perfect tense uses 'haben'.
Common phrases
- das heißtthat means, i.e.
- Wie heißt du?What's your name?
- Ich heiße ...My name is ...
- Was soll das heißen?What's that supposed to mean?
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often say 'Ich bin Anna' instead of 'Ich heiße Anna' when giving their name. While 'Ich bin Anna' is understandable, 'Ich heiße Anna' is the standard way to say 'My name is Anna'.
Don’t confuse it with
- nennen — nennen means 'to call (someone something)' and takes an accusative object, e.g., 'Ich nenne ihn Peter' (I call him Peter), while heißen is intransitive and means 'to be called'.
Questions learners ask
How do I ask someone's name in German?
Use 'Wie heißt du?' (informal) or 'Wie heißen Sie?' (formal). The answer is 'Ich heiße ...'.
What is the difference between 'heißen' and 'nennen'?
'heißen' means 'to be called' and is used without an object for the name, e.g., 'Ich heiße Maria.' 'nennen' means 'to call (someone something)' and requires an object, e.g., 'Ich nenne ihn Peter.'
How do you say 'that means' in German?
You say 'das heißt' (often abbreviated 'd.h.'). For example, 'Das heißt, wir müssen gehen.' (That means we have to go.)