What is the difference between Du and Sie and Wie heißt du? and Wie heißen Sie??
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Answers

Ema_non

13 Dec 2018

German

"Sie" is formal, used when adressing strangers (adults) or people you're not on close terms with, e.g. your boss or colleagues (depends on the work environment).
"Du" is informal, used e.g. for friends, family, kids/teens and young people.

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Yang1988

13 Dec 2018

Simplified Chinese (China)

Do ordinary Germans care about this? Or does it just sound a little strange?

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Ema_non

13 Dec 2018

German

@Yang1988 Yes, most Germans do care as it's seen as proper etiquette. Especially older people for example might get offended if you adress them with "du" as a stranger, so if you're talking to a German you should use "Sie" by default (if it's not a person in one of the groups I mentioned).
Some might offer you to refer to them with "du", but usually only after they've known you for a while.

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