Meeting People (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Introducing Yourself
Learning to greet people and share basic information about yourself provides the foundation for German conversation. These essential phrases will help you start conversations confidently and make positive first impressions with German speakers.
Basic greetings and farewells
The time of day and how well you know someone will determine which greeting is most appropriate. Here are the essential greetings you need to know:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| hallo | hello |
| guten Morgen | good morning |
| guten Tag | good day |
| guten Abend | good evening |
| gute Nacht | good night |
| tschüss | bye |
| bis bald | see you soon |
| auf Wiedersehen | goodbye |
Example sentences:
- Hallo, wie geht's? (Hello, how are you?)
- Guten Morgen, ich bin Sarah. (Good morning, I'm Sarah.)
- Auf Wiedersehen und vielen Dank! (Goodbye and many thanks!)
Asking and responding about how you are
To ask how someone is feeling, use the question wie geht's? (literally meaning "how is it going?"). Here are common ways to respond:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| sehr gut, danke | very good, thanks |
| gut | good |
| sehr gut | very good |
| toll | great |
| nicht schlecht | not bad |
| nicht so gut | not so good |
| furchtbar | awful |
| und dir? | and you? |
The phrase wie geht's? is a shortened, informal version of wie geht es dir? It's commonly used in casual conversations and literally translates to "how is it going?"
Example sentences:
- Wie geht's? - Sehr gut, danke. Und dir? (How are you? - Very good, thanks. And you?)
- Es geht mir toll heute. (I'm feeling great today.)
Giving your name
The verb heißen is used to ask and give names. This verb means "to be called" rather than literally asking "what is your name?"
Important Grammar Point: The verb heißen literally means "to be called," which is why Germans say "Wie heißt du?" (How are you called?) rather than directly asking "What is your name?" This is a fundamental difference from English.
Key phrases:
- Wie heißt du? - What is your name? (literally: "How are you called?")
- Ich heiße - I am called
- Ich heiße Emma - I am called Emma
You can also use the alternative: mein Name ist (my name is)
- Mein Name ist David - My name is David
Example sentences:
- Wie heißt du? - Ich heiße Michael. (What's your name? - I'm called Michael.)
- Entschuldigung, wie heißen Sie? - Mein Name ist Frau Schmidt. (Excuse me, what's your name? - My name is Mrs Schmidt.)
Stating your age
To discuss age, you need the verb sein (to be). This irregular verb changes its ending depending on who you're talking about.
Key phrases:
- Wie alt bist du? - How old are you?
- Ich bin zwölf Jahre alt - I am 12 years old
- Sie ist dreizehn Jahre alt - She is 13 years old
- Er ist elf Jahre alt - He is 11 years old
Worked Example: Using the verb "sein" with age
Question: Wie alt bist du? (How old are you?)
Answer pattern: ich bin + number + Jahre alt
Step 1: Start with "ich bin" (I am)
Step 2: Add the number (fünfzehn = fifteen)
Step 3: Add "Jahre alt" (years old)
Complete answer: Ich bin fünfzehn Jahre alt. (I am fifteen years old.)
Numbers 13-19: Add -zehn to numbers 3-9, with these exceptions:
- sechzehn (16) - drops the 's' from sechs
- siebzehn (17) - shortens sieben
Example sentences:
- Wie alt bist du? - Ich bin fünfzehn Jahre alt. (How old are you? - I'm 15 years old.)
- Mein Bruder ist achtzehn Jahre alt. (My brother is 18 years old.)
Saying where you live
To discuss where you live, use the verb wohnen (to live).
Key phrases:
- Wo wohnst du? - Where do you live?
- Ich wohne - I live
- Ich wohne in London - I live in London
- Ich wohne in Berlin - I live in Berlin
Example sentences:
- Wo wohnst du? - Ich wohne in Manchester. (Where do you live? - I live in Manchester.)
- Wir wohnen in einer kleinen Stadt. (We live in a small town.)
Expressing nationality
Nationality words in German have different forms for males and females. Add -in to the male form to create the female version.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ich bin | I am |
| Engländer (m) / Engländerin (f) | English |
| Deutscher (m) / Deutsche (f) | German |
| Pole (m) / Polin (f) | Polish |
| Rumäne (m) / Rumänin (f) | Romanian |
| Pakistaner (m) / Pakistanerin (f) | Pakistani |
| Inder (m) / Inderin (f) | Indian |
Gender Rule for Nationalities: German nationality words change depending on whether you're referring to a male or female person. Simply add -in to the male form to create the female version. This is a crucial rule that applies to most nationality words.
Special cases to remember:
- Er ist Deutscher - He is German
- Sie ist Deutsche - She is German
Example sentences:
- Ich bin Engländerin. (I am English - female speaker.)
- Er ist Inder. (He is Indian.)
- Sie ist Deutsche. (She is German.)
Saying where you come from
The verb kommen (to come from) is regular and follows standard conjugation patterns.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| ich | komme |
| du | kommst |
| er/sie | kommt |
Key phrases:
- Woher kommst du? - Where do you come from?
- Ich komme aus - I come from
Example sentences:
- Ich komme aus Schottland. (I come from Scotland.)
- Du kommst aus Wales. (You come from Wales.)
- Er kommt aus England. (He comes from England.)
- Sie kommt aus Nordirland. (She comes from Northern Ireland.)
Polite expressions
Good manners are essential in German conversations. Here are key polite expressions:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| danke | thank you |
| dankeschön | thank you |
| vielen Dank | many thanks |
| bitte | please/you're welcome |
The word bitte has multiple meanings in German - it can mean "please" when making a request, or "you're welcome" when responding to thanks. Context determines the meaning.
Example sentences:
- Danke für deine Hilfe! (Thanks for your help!)
- Bitte schön! (You're welcome!)
- Vielen Dank für alles. (Many thanks for everything.)
Example dialogue
Worked Example: Complete Introduction Dialogue
Anna: Hallo! Ich heiße Anna. Wie heißt du? (Hello! I'm called Anna. What's your name?)
Tom: Hallo Anna! Ich bin Tom. Wie geht's dir? (Hello Anna! I'm Tom. How are you?)
Anna: Gut, danke. Woher kommst du? (Good, thanks. Where do you come from?)
Tom: Ich komme aus Deutschland. Und du? (I come from Germany. And you?)
Anna: Ich bin Engländerin. Ich wohne in London. (I'm English. I live in London.)
This dialogue demonstrates the natural flow of introductions, incorporating greetings, names, feelings, and personal background information.
Common mistakes and tips
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Capital letters: All German nouns must start with a capital letter (Name, Stadt, Land)
- The Eszett (ß): This letter represents a double 's' - don't confuse it with the letter B
- Gender endings: Remember to add -in to nationality words when referring to females
- Verb endings: Pay attention to verb conjugations - ich bin vs du bist vs er/sie ist
- Age formation: Always use Jahre alt after the number, not just the number alone
Key Points to Remember:
- German conversation starts with appropriate greetings based on the time of day
- The verb heißen means "to be called" when asking for names
- Use sein (to be) for age and nationality, wohnen for location, kommen for origin
- All German nouns require capital letters at the start
- Add -in to nationality words when referring to females
- Essential polite expressions like danke and bitte are crucial for good manners