- by teachers when addressing pupils in the senior classes of secondary school
- for all student–lecturer communication in higher education
(c) When to start using duDu is usually associated with first-name terms, but first names are, for example, used
with Sie in the senior classes of secondary school. The point in a relationship at which
the du form becomes appropriate is very difficult to define. Native English speakers are
advised to follow the lead of Germans on this matter. It is normal for the older/more
senior person to offer the du form to the younger/junior person. If ever in doubt, use
Sie. The verbs corresponding to the pronouns du and Sie are jmdn. duzen and jmdn.
siezen respectively:For ‘das Du’ see 25.6b (p. 46).
Wollen wir uns duzen?
Shall we use the du form?See 35.6b (p. 78).
(d) Spelling of du/ihr and Siedu/ihr and the related possessive adjectives, i.e. dein, etc. and euer, etc. (see 30.3), are
written with small letters in all circumstances:Ich danke dir für deinen langen Brief.
Thank you for your long letter.Was habt ihr im Sommer vor?
What do you have planned for the summer?In all contexts the various forms of Sie and the possessive adjective Ihr are written with
a capital letter:Wann fahren Sie in die Stadt?
When are you going to town?Wie geht es Ihnen/Ihrem Mann?
How are you?/How is your husband?60.2 Initial greeting
(a) In spoken German a simple Hallo! is very common, especially amongst friends,
colleagues and young people (see also 90.1). Grüß dich! ‘greetings’ is also frequently
heard.(b) Guten Tag ‘Good day’ is the standard greeting for a stranger or informal
acquaintance and can be used throughout the day. In the morning Guten Morgen
might be used, while in the evening Guten Abend is likely to be preferred (see 18.7
for this use of the accusative). These forms might be reinforced by schön:Schön(en) guten Morgen!
A very good morning to you!60
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