A1 · MODULE 01 · FIRST CONTACT
A name, a new connection.
Say your name, ask someone else’s name, and choose du or Sie for the situation.
0%of activities complete
STEP 2 OF 8 · GRAMMAR◷ 8 MIN
A name opens the conversation
Learn these as complete patterns first. Ich heiße Mia and Ich bin Mia both introduce you. Replace Mia with your name. You do not need a full verb table yet.
YOUR NAME
Ich heiße Mia.
My name is Mia.
WITH A CLASSMATE
Wie heißt du?
What is your name? (informal)
IN A POLITE EXCHANGE
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name? (formal)
Notice the small change. Ich heiße · du heißt · Sie heißen. Keep each question together as a phrase. The polite Sie has a capital S; du usually has a small d.
Make the pattern yours
Say your name three times using Ich heiße. Ask an imaginary classmate Wie heißt du? Then ask an adult at a formal appointment Wie heißen Sie? Finally, introduce yourself using Ich bin.
In Switzerland you will often see heisse, heisst and heissen instead of heiße, heißt and heißen. Both spelling conventions are accepted in your practice.