![]() ![]() When in doubt, though, you should always address someone formally. Some companies also choose this level of formality as a middle ground. This is common among teachers addressing older students to show a certain level of respect toward the young adults. ![]() There is also a “semi-formal” option of addressing someone - in this case, you would use “Sie,” but instead of using their surname, you would use their first name. In addition to the formal pronoun “Sie,” surnames are used to maintain a professional distance at work, especially when talking to superiors or customers. While English always uses “you,” German differentiates between “du” (which is the informal way to address someone) and the formal option, “Sie.” Formal speech is generally preferred unless speaking to children, family or friends. This reflects in the way they express themselves - they have the concept of addressing someone in a formal manner built right into their language. Germans tend to be organized and punctual, and like to get straight to the point. Addressing someone by their first name is only acceptable if you are talking to someone you know well, and casually chatting to someone on the street is relatively unheard of. Germany, in contrast, has a formal culture. Knowing the differences between the American and German messaging approach is the key to success. If you are already putting effort into reaching German customers, you will want to make sure to approach them in a way that is the most natural and appealing to them. Germany is a huge market, and addressing it properly means that you are taking care of millions of potential customers.ĭespite the fact that the English and German languages share the same Germanic roots, the two countries themselves are very different. In fact, Germany’s “.de” is the second-largest country top-level domain out there, following China’s “.cn”. In return, the US is also the most important trading partner for Germany, which has the largest economy in Europe, with a GDP of more than $3.4 billion.Īlthough everyone in Germany studies English in school, they still like to be able to access websites in their native language. For the US, Germany is the most important trading partner in the EU. German is spoken by more than 130 million people and is the most widely spoken language in the European Union. English is no doubt one of the most important languages on Earth, but especially when it comes to the European market you should not forget about your potential German-speaking customers. It’s the native language of a whopping 370 million people and is also used by 740 million non-native speakers, which means that around 20% of the world’s population speaks English to some degree. English is one of the most influential languages in the world, especially online. ![]()
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