Sie
Formal "you" (singular or plural); also the third-person plural pronoun "they".
Definitions
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1
Formal 'you' — used to address one or more people politely (formal register).
“Können Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof erklären?”
Could you please explain the way to the train station to me?
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2
Third-person plural 'they' — refers to a group of people or things.
“Die Kinder spielen draußen, weil sie gutes Wetter haben.”
The children are playing outside because they have good weather.
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3
Third-person singular feminine 'she' — refers to a single female person or a feminine noun.
“Meine Schwester arbeitet in Berlin, und sie kommt morgen zurück.”
My sister works in Berlin, and she is coming back tomorrow.
Word forms
- Usage
- Pronoun — no gender or plural forms of its own. Takes third-person plural verb conjugation for formal 'you' (same as 'they').
Capitalisation is the key clue: **Sie** (capital S) always means the formal "you," whereas **sie** (lowercase s) means "she" or "they." In writing, this distinction is clear; in speech, context determines the meaning. Using the formal Sie with strangers, elders, or in professional settings is an important politeness rule in German culture.