Subject Pronouns (Nominative) in German

Overview

Subject pronouns are the foundation of every German sentence. They tell you who is performing the action and are among the very first words you learn at the A1 level. In German, these pronouns are ich (I), du (you, informal), er/sie/es (he/she/it), wir (we), ihr (you all, informal), sie (they), and Sie (you, formal).

Unlike English, German has three important distinctions you need to pay attention to. First, there is a formal "you" (Sie, always capitalized) that you use with strangers, in professional settings, and with anyone you want to show respect to. Second, German verbs change their endings depending on the subject pronoun, so learning pronouns goes hand in hand with learning conjugation. Third, the third-person pronoun sie can mean "she" or "they" depending on the verb form that follows.

Getting comfortable with these pronouns early on will make everything else in German grammar click into place, from verb conjugation to case endings.

How It Works

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	ich (I)	wir (we)
2nd informal	du (you)	ihr (you all)
2nd formal	Sie (you)	Sie (you all)
3rd	er / sie / es (he / she / it)	sie (they)

Key rules:

• Sie (formal "you") is always capitalized, whether at the start of a sentence or in the middle. It takes the same verb form as sie (they).
• du and ihr are the informal forms. Use du for one person you know well, and ihr for a group of people you address informally.
• es is used for neuter nouns, not just abstract "it." For example, das Mädchen (the girl) is grammatically neuter, so you refer to it with es in formal grammar.
• Unlike Italian or Spanish, German does not commonly drop the subject pronoun. You almost always need to state it explicitly.

Examples in Context

German	English	Note
Ich bin müde.	I am tired.	Most basic sentence pattern
Du bist sehr nett.	You are very nice.	Informal singular
Er kommt aus Berlin.	He comes from Berlin.	Masculine 3rd person
Sie arbeitet in München.	She works in Munich.	Feminine 3rd person
Es regnet heute.	It is raining today.	Neuter / impersonal
Wir lernen Deutsch.	We are learning German.	1st person plural
Ihr seid willkommen.	You all are welcome.	Informal plural
Sie sprechen Englisch.	They speak English.	3rd person plural
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?	Do you speak German?	Formal address
Ich komme aus England.	I come from England.	Stating origin
Du hast Recht.	You are right.	Common everyday phrase
Wir gehen ins Kino.	We are going to the cinema.	Planning activities

Common Mistakes

Confusing "sie" (she), "sie" (they), and "Sie" (formal you)

• Wrong: Writing "sie" when you mean formal "you" in a letter
• Right: "Können Sie mir helfen?" (Can you help me?)
• Why: Formal Sie is always capitalized. Look at the verb form to distinguish "she" (3rd singular) from "they/you formal" (3rd plural form).

Using "du" with strangers or in formal situations

• Wrong: Du können mir helfen? (to your boss)
• Right: Können Sie mir helfen?
• Why: German culture values the formal/informal distinction. Use Sie with anyone you are not on first-name terms with.

Forgetting "es" for neuter nouns

• Wrong: Das Kind spielt. Er ist glücklich.
• Right: Das Kind spielt. Es ist glücklich.
• Why: Kind is a neuter noun (das Kind), so the pronoun must be es, not er or sie.

Mixing up "ihr" and "Sie" for plural "you"

• Wrong: Ihr möchten bestellen? (to customers in a restaurant)
• Right: Möchten Sie bestellen?
• Why: Use ihr only with groups you are on informal terms with. For strangers or formal groups, use Sie.

Practice Tips

1. Conjugation drills: Pick three common verbs (sein, haben, machen) and practice saying full sentences with each pronoun: "ich bin, du bist, er ist..." until it becomes automatic.
2. Spot the pronoun: While listening to German podcasts or watching shows, pay attention to when speakers use du versus Sie. Notice the social setting — friends at a bar versus a job interview.
3. Write about your day: Describe your daily routine using all the pronouns. For example: "Ich stehe auf. Mein Bruder — er duscht zuerst. Wir frühstücken zusammen."

Related Concepts

• Verb 'sein' (Present) — the first verb to conjugate with these pronouns
• Verb 'haben' (Present) — the second essential verb
• Regular Verbs (Present) — standard conjugation patterns
• Formal Address (Sie) — deeper look at formal vs informal
• Verb 'werden' (Present) — another important irregular verb