ihr
you (plural, informal) · her (possessive) · their (possessive) · to her (dative of sie)
Ihr is the informal plural 'you' in German, used when addressing two or more people you know well, such as friends, family, or children. It also appears as the possessive 'her' or 'their' and as the dative form of 'she' (her).
What ihr means
- you (plural, informal) — Addressing two or more people you are on familiar terms with.
- her (possessive) — Indicating something belongs to a feminine noun or person.
- their (possessive) — Indicating something belongs to multiple people or things.
- to her (dative of sie) — As the indirect object meaning 'to her'.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where ihr was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Was sagt ihr dazu?What do you say to that?
- Ich habe keine Angst vor euch.I'm not afraid of you.
Example sentences
- Ihr seid meine besten Freunde.You are my best friends.
- Könnt ihr mir helfen?Can you help me?
- Das ist ihre Tasche.That is her bag.
- Ich gebe ihr das Buch.I give her the book.
Grammar
| Type | personal pronoun (2nd person plural informal) |
|---|---|
| Nominative | ihr |
| Accusative | euch |
| Dative | euch |
| Possessive | euer/eure |
As a personal pronoun, 'ihr' is always the subject (nominative). The object forms are 'euch' for both accusative and dative.
Common phrases
- ihr beideyou two
- ihr alleall of you
- ihr selbstyourselves
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'ihr' (you plural) with 'er' (he) because of the similar sound. Remember: 'ihr' is for addressing a group, 'er' is for a male person.
Don’t confuse it with
Questions learners ask
When do I use 'ihr' instead of 'du'?
Use 'du' for one person you know well, and 'ihr' for two or more people you know well.
What is the difference between 'ihr' and 'ihre'?
'Ihr' is the pronoun 'you' (plural) or the base form of the possessive. 'Ihre' is the feminine or plural form of the possessive, meaning 'her' or 'their'.
How do I conjugate verbs with 'ihr'?
Verbs with 'ihr' typically end in '-t', e.g., 'ihr geht', 'ihr habt', 'ihr seid'.