Introduce yourself in German
Learn to introduce yourself in German with Ich bin and Mein Name ist, ask Wie heißt du?, and address someone politely using Fräulein or junge Frau.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Introduce yourself in German with Ich bin or Mein Name ist, then ask Wie heißt du? informally or Wie heißen Sie? formally. To get a stranger’s attention, Entschuldigung is a useful default. This lesson explains why Fräulein is outdated and why age-based forms such as junge Frau can depend on context. Practice giving your name and keeping the same level of address through a short conversation.
By the end, you can…
- state my name using Ich bin and Mein Name ist.
- ask someone's name informally and formally.
- address a girl or woman appropriately in German.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich bin Ana.
I am Ana.
ikh bin AH-nah
Use to give your first name. The verb bin means 'am'.
Mein Name ist Ana.
My name is Ana.
mine NAH-muh ist AH-nah
Slightly more formal than Ich bin. Use in business or with strangers.
Wie heißt du?
What is your name? (informal)
vee hyst doo
Use with friends, family, children, and peers. Du is singular informal.
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name? (formal)
vee HY-sen zee
Use with adults you don't know, in shops, offices, or with elders. Sie is formal you.
Junge Frau
young woman (address)
YOONG-uh frow
Literally young woman. As direct address it can sound patronizing, depending on context. Entschuldigung alone is a safer neutral way to get attention. Fräulein is outdated.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To introduce yourself, use Ich bin + name or Mein Name ist + name. Both are correct. Ich bin is more common in casual speech. To ask a name, use Wie heißt du? informally or Wie heißen Sie? formally. For example: Ich bin Ana. Wie heißt du? — Ich bin Tom. Mein Name ist Ana. Wie heißen Sie? — Mein Name ist Müller. Note that German verbs change: ich bin, du bist, Sie sind. Do not use English 'do' or 'so' inversion; German uses direct word order.
When to use it
Use du when an informal relationship is established and Sie for formal address or when appropriate with unfamiliar adults. Age alone does not determine which to choose. Entschuldigung gets a stranger’s attention without commenting on their age. Frau plus a known surname is a standard form of address. Junge Frau and junger Mann can sound friendly or patronizing depending on the speaker and situation; they are not universal polite replacements for a person’s name.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hallo, ich bin Ana. Wie heißt du?
Hello, I am Ana. What is your name?HAH-loh, ikh bin AH-nah. vee hyst doo?Ich bin Tom. Freut mich.
I am Tom. Nice to meet you.ikh bin tom. froyt mikh.Freut mich auch. Kommst du aus Berlin?
Nice to meet you too. Are you from Berlin?froyt mikh owkh. komst doo ows bair-LEEN?Nein, ich komme aus Hamburg. Und du?
No, I am from Hamburg. And you?nine, ikh KOM-muh ows HAHM-boork. oont doo?A little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, using du too early can seem overly familiar. Wait until the other person offers du. In Austria and Switzerland, Sie is also standard for formal address. Junge Frau is polite, but if you know the person's name, use Frau + surname. Avoid Fräulein entirely in modern usage.
One thing to watch for
Using Fräulein as the default polite way to address a woman.
Try this instead: Fräulein is outdated and can sound condescending. To get a stranger’s attention, Entschuldigung is enough. Use Frau plus a known surname when appropriate. Junge Frau can also sound patronizing depending on context; it is not a universal replacement.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What is your name?' informally to a friend?
Show a sample answer
Wie heißt du?
This uses du, the informal you. Wie heißen Sie? is also correct but formal.
2How can you politely get a stranger’s attention and ask their name?
Show a sample answer
Entschuldigung, wie heißen Sie?
Entschuldigung gets attention without assigning an age or marital-status label. Sie makes the question formal.
3Translate: 'I am Ana. My name is Ana.'
Show a sample answer
Ich bin Ana. Mein Name ist Ana.
Both sentences are correct. Ich bin is more casual; Mein Name ist is slightly formal.
Introduce yourself with Ich bin or Mein Name ist. Ask Wie heißt du? informally or Wie heißen Sie? formally. Use Entschuldigung to get attention; use Frau plus a known surname where appropriate.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr