Timeline for How can a native English speaker know when it is appropriate to use the polite (Sie) or the familiar (Du)?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
30 events
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| Nov 3, 2015 at 13:47 | answer | added | WayneEra | timeline score: 1 | |
| Oct 31, 2015 at 12:33 | comment | added | O. R. Mapper | @phant0m: I wouldn't call this affectionate as such, but rather an element of slight role-playing (like a waiter towards a guest). | |
| Oct 31, 2015 at 7:53 | comment | added | alk | Down here in the German speaking part of Switzerland, when I am unsure which form to use I maneuver myself around this issue by approaching the people/person by using "Ihr" ... :-) Quiet old-fashioned, but correct and understood, at least down here. | |
| Jun 18, 2015 at 23:04 | comment | added | Daniel | I am from the early 1980's and I don't consider "Siezen" as impolite. I like to have the option to maintain a certain distance if needed. Anyway I must admit, it depends on the occasion. The English equivalent would be the use of First or Last Name, when addressing someone and I do not think, that this has an impolite connotation at all. | |
| Jul 24, 2014 at 15:26 | answer | added | Willow | timeline score: 4 | |
| Jun 14, 2013 at 13:09 | answer | added | äüö | timeline score: 2 | |
| Apr 5, 2012 at 22:07 | answer | added | Bob | timeline score: 12 | |
| Sep 8, 2011 at 9:16 | answer | added | Martin Thoma | timeline score: 10 | |
| Sep 6, 2011 at 12:55 | answer | added | Portree Kid | timeline score: 3 | |
| Jun 24, 2011 at 9:22 | comment | added | Glen Wheeler | @pha Interesting, I had no idea, but can somehow understand. Cheers. | |
| Jun 24, 2011 at 9:04 | comment | added | phant0m | For instance, if you just cooked dinner, you might tell your lover: "If you would be so kind as to take your seat", then you could use "Sie". | |
| Jun 24, 2011 at 6:10 | comment | added | Glen Wheeler | @pha Curious! The sarcasm I can understand, but how could it be taken affectionately?? | |
| Jun 23, 2011 at 21:16 | comment | added | phant0m |
You can also address someone with Sie that you know very well and are on a "per du" basis. In that case, it can have a sarcastic touch, implying he/she's being arrogant, or - quite the contrary - even be affectionate.
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| Jun 23, 2011 at 10:22 | answer | added | back2dos | timeline score: 6 | |
| Jun 23, 2011 at 10:03 | history | edited | Glen Wheeler |
tags fixing
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| Jun 20, 2011 at 4:16 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/#!/StackGerman/status/82663181289406464 | ||
| Jun 7, 2011 at 17:21 | vote | accept | Glen Wheeler | ||
| May 28, 2011 at 13:35 | comment | added | Konrad Rudolph | @misterben This corresponds with my experience as well (although I’m still quite a bit younger). I also get the impression that the “threshold” for using “Du” is slowly moving upwards, possibly due to the influence of American culture. | |
| S May 25, 2011 at 10:02 | comment | added | Isotopp | There is htwkbk.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/… (via htwkbk.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/when-to-use-du-and-sie) which actually is somewhat accurate despite the fact that it probably was written tongue in cheek. | |
| S May 25, 2011 at 10:02 | answer | added | Isotopp | timeline score: 21 | |
| May 25, 2011 at 9:52 | answer | added | musiKk | timeline score: 5 | |
| May 25, 2011 at 7:06 | history | edited | Glen Wheeler |
invented new tag
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| May 24, 2011 at 21:59 | answer | added | Takkat | timeline score: 11 | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:14 | comment | added | misterben | This was easier when I was younger! Now I'm in my thrities, someone of the same age might well expect a Du even in a formal setting, and take Sie as an suggestion that they are old before their time :) | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:08 | comment | added | FUZxxl | Many (younger) people will tell you that they prefer being addressed by "du" instead of "Sie". There are even two verbs for that: duzen means to address somebody using du and siezen is the equivalent for Sie. | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:07 | answer | added | Phira | timeline score: 13 | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:01 | answer | added | markus | timeline score: 30 | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:00 | answer | added | Tomalak | timeline score: 72 | |
| May 24, 2011 at 20:53 | answer | added | Twelve47 | timeline score: 22 | |
| May 24, 2011 at 20:50 | history | asked | Glen Wheeler | CC BY-SA 3.0 |