Verb 'sein' (Present) in German

Overview

The verb sein (to be) is the most fundamental verb in German and one of the first you learn at the A1 level. You use it constantly — to introduce yourself, describe people and things, state your profession, express feelings, and much more. Just like "to be" in English, sein is highly irregular, which means you need to memorize each form individually.

Because sein is used so frequently in everyday conversation, learning its conjugation by heart will give you an immediate boost in your ability to communicate. It is also essential as a helping verb for the past tense (Perfekt) of many verbs, particularly verbs of motion and change of state.

How It Works

Pronoun	Form	English
ich	bin	I am
du	bist	you are (informal)
er/sie/es	ist	he/she/it is
wir	sind	we are
ihr	seid	you all are (informal)
sie/Sie	sind	they are / you are (formal)

Key points:

• Every form is different — there is no regular pattern here; pure memorization is needed
• ist is the most common form you will hear and use
• sind serves double duty for "we are," "they are," and formal "you are"
• German does not use a continuous form: ich bin müde means both "I am tired" and "I am being tired"

Common uses of sein:

• Identity: Ich bin Maria. (I am Maria.)
• Nationality: Er ist Deutscher. (He is German.)
• Professions: Sie ist Ärztin. (She is a doctor.)
• Descriptions: Das Wetter ist kalt. (The weather is cold.)
• Location: Wir sind in Berlin. (We are in Berlin.)

Examples in Context

German	English	Note
Ich bin Student.	I am a student.	No article needed with professions
Du bist nett.	You are nice.	Informal
Er ist dreißig Jahre alt.	He is thirty years old.	Age expression
Sie ist aus Österreich.	She is from Austria.	Origin
Es ist kalt.	It is cold.	Weather/impersonal
Wir sind Freunde.	We are friends.	Relationship
Ihr seid spät.	You all are late.	Informal plural
Sie sind willkommen.	You are welcome.	Formal
Bist du fertig?	Are you done?	Question form
Das ist mein Bruder.	That is my brother.	Introducing someone
Wo sind die Kinder?	Where are the children?	Question with wo

Common Mistakes

Confusing "ist" and "bist"

• Wrong: Du ist müde.
• Right: Du bist müde.
• Why: Each pronoun has its own unique form. bist goes with du, ist goes with er/sie/es.

Adding an article with professions

• Wrong: Ich bin ein Lehrer. (not technically wrong, but unusual)
• Right: Ich bin Lehrer.
• Why: In German, you typically omit the article when stating professions or nationalities after sein. You do use an article if there is an adjective: Ich bin ein guter Lehrer.

Using "sind" with "ihr"

• Wrong: Ihr sind müde.
• Right: Ihr seid müde.
• Why: ihr takes the form seid. sind belongs to wir, sie (they), and Sie (formal).

Practice Tips

1. Morning routine: Every morning, describe yourself and your surroundings using sein: "Ich bin wach. Es ist sieben Uhr. Das Wetter ist gut. Mein Kaffee ist heiß."
2. People descriptions: Describe five people you know using different forms of sein: "Meine Mutter ist Lehrerin. Mein Freund ist lustig. Wir sind Nachbarn."
3. Question practice: Turn statements into questions by moving the verb to the front: Du bist müde. → Bist du müde?

Related Concepts

• Parent: Subject Pronouns (Nominative) — the pronouns you conjugate sein with
• Predicate Adjectives — adjectives used after sein without endings