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Personal Pronouns

When do I use "du" vs. "Sie"?

du (informal): Used for friends, family, children, pets, people your own age you know well.

Sie (formal): Used for strangers, people in authority, older people, in professional settings, and anyone you don't know well or want to show respect to. "Sie" is always capitalized.

Example

To a friend: Wie geht es dir?

To a stranger: Wie geht es Ihnen?

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