German · Kollegen / Alltag
A colleague suggests switching to the informal "du": what to say in German
A colleague offers to switch to the informal form.
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How it's done. In many German companies colleagues say du; formal Sie stays with management and clients. Usually the older person or manager offers du: Wir können uns gern duzen.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Wir können uns gern duzen, wenn Sie möchten.Veer KYOH-nayn oons gehrn DOO-tsayn, vayn zee MYOKH-tayn.
We can use du with each other if you like.
They might also say:
Sollen wir uns duzen? Das ist hier üblich.
ZOH-layn veer oons DOO-tsayn? Dahs eest kheer YOO-bleekh.
Shall we use du? That's usual here.
YOU REPLY
Ja, gern. Ich bin Olena.
Yah, gehrn. Eekh been oh-LEH-nuh.
Yes, gladly. I'm Olena.
THEY SAY
Schön, ich bin Anna.Shyohn, eekh been AH-nuh.
Nice, I'm Anna.
2
YOU FINISH
Freut mich, Anna!
Froyt meekh, AH-nuh!
Nice to meet you, Anna!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
können
KYOH-nayn
verb
to be able to, can
gern
gehrn
adverb
gladly
duzen
DOO-tsayn
verb
to address informally
möchten
MYOKH-tayn
verb
would like
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
bin
been
verb
I am
10 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
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