You are at a language exchange in Berlin. You want to introduce yourself in German, ask the other person's name, and handle the small complications that follow. This workshop gives you three short role-plays that build from a friendly first meeting to a formal office introduction and a busy café encounter. You will practise using Ich bin, Mein Name ist, Wie heißt du?, and Wie heißen Sie? in realistic turns, and you will decide when to switch between informal and formal address. The goal is not to memorise a script but to say your name clearly, ask a name in return, and respond when the other person adds a detail or asks you something back.
Choose your introduction and your question before you speak
Before you open your mouth, decide two things: how you will give your name and how you will ask for the other person's name. For a casual setting, Ich bin plus your first name is short and natural. For a more formal setting, Mein Name ist plus your first name or full name signals a bit more distance and care. Then choose your question. Wie heißt du? is informal and works with peers, friends, and people your own age in relaxed contexts. Wie heißen Sie? is formal and fits shops, offices, and unfamiliar adults. Do not mix the two in the same turn: if you use du, keep the rest of the exchange informal; if you use Sie, keep it formal. Practise saying your chosen introduction out loud three times, then your question three times, so the words come without hesitation. If you need to get someone's attention first, Entschuldigung is a neutral opener that does not comment on the person's age or appearance. Avoid Junge Frau as a default way to address a stranger; Entschuldigung plus Wie heißen Sie? is safer and more neutral.
When the other person answers and turns the question back
The harder turn is not your first sentence; it is the moment after the other person gives their name. They may say Ich bin Tom, or Mein Name ist Müller, and then ask you something back, such as Und du? or Kommst du aus Berlin? You need to recognise that the question has shifted to you and respond without freezing. One useful move is to repeat the other person's name once to confirm you heard it, then answer the return question with a short, honest sentence. If you are not sure whether to use du or Sie, listen to what they used first and mirror it. If they said Wie heißt du?, you can answer with Ich bin plus your name and then ask Wie heißt du? back. If they said Wie heißen Sie?, answer with Mein Name ist and then use Wie heißen Sie? if you need to ask again. If they ask where you are from and you do not want to give a long answer, a short city name plus Und du? keeps the exchange moving. The goal is to keep the turn alive, not to produce a perfect paragraph.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Ich bin Ana.
I am Ana.
ikh bin AH-nah
Mein Name ist Ana.
My name is Ana.
mine NAH-muh ist AH-nah
Wie heißt du?
What is your name? (informal)
vee hyst doo
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name? (formal)
vee HY-sen zee
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Hallo, ich bin Ana. Wie heißt du?
Hello, I am Ana. What is your name?Ich bin Tom. Freut mich.
I am Tom. Nice to meet you.Freut mich auch. Kommst du aus Berlin?
Nice to meet you too. Are you from Berlin?Nein, ich komme aus Hamburg. Und du?
No, I am from Hamburg. And you?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
First meeting at a language exchange
You are at a casual language exchange in a café. A person about your age sits down across from you and smiles. The room is noisy but friendly. You want to introduce yourself and find out their name.
Your task: Say aloud: Ich bin plus your first name. Then ask: Wie heißt du? Say both sentences clearly, with a short pause between them. If you want, add Freut mich after they answer.
Formal introduction at a new office
You are at the reception desk of a small company on your first day. A person in their fifties, who you have not met, greets you politely. You do not know whether they are a colleague or a client.
Your task: Get their attention with Entschuldigung, then say: Mein Name ist plus your first name and surname. Ask: Wie heißen Sie? Keep your tone calm and polite. Do not use du in this situation.
Busy café with a stranger
You are in a crowded café and the only free seat is at a small table where someone is already sitting. You want to ask if you can sit down, introduce yourself, and find out their name. The person looks busy but not unfriendly.
Your task: Say: Entschuldigung, then ask in German whether the seat is free. If they say yes, sit down and say: Ich bin plus your first name. Then ask: Wie heißen Sie? Use the formal form because you do not know this person.
Common questions
Should I use Ich bin or Mein Name ist when I introduce myself?
Both are correct. Ich bin plus your first name is more common in casual speech. Mein Name ist is slightly more formal and fits business or first meetings with strangers. Choose based on the situation, and keep the rest of your turn consistent with that choice.
How do I know whether to use du or Sie with someone new?
Listen to what the other person uses first and mirror it. In casual settings with peers, du is common. In shops, offices, and with unfamiliar adults, Sie is safer. If you are unsure, start with Sie and switch only if the other person invites du.
What if I forget the other person's name right after they say it?
It is fine to ask again politely. Say Entschuldigung, wie heißen Sie noch einmal? This is a normal request and keeps the conversation going without pretending you remembered.
Sources and further reading
- german: introduce yourselfChecked September 2026
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