Elena Gomez
Updated September 27, 2026
1 min read
Sie vs du, email openings, and how to follow the other person’s lead.
Getting formality wrong in German feels bigger than in English. Start formal, then match the other person.
| Context | Use | Example | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First email | Sie | Könnten Sie das bitte prüfen?nTeam Slack after they use du | du | Kannst du das heute schicken?nCustomer you just met | Sie | Wie darf ich Sie anreden? |
If someone writes “Liebe Grüße” and uses du, you can switch. Do not switch first in a new professional relationship.
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