German personal pronouns explained: 5 rules & examples
German personal pronouns explained: German has six personal pronouns in the singular and plural, each with distinct forms for nominative, accusative, dative, and reflexive cases. In the rest of this article you will see clear rules, dozens of examples, and a quick practice routine you can start right now.
What are the German personal pronouns in the nominative case?
The nominative case marks the subject of a sentence. The six basic pronouns are:
- ich – I
- du – you (informal singular)
- er – he
- sie – she
- es – it
- wir – we
- ihr – you (informal plural)
- sie – they
- Sie – you (formal, singular & plural)
Example: Ich lerne Deutsch (I learn German). Sie arbeiten im Büro (You work in the office).
Use the free everyday phrases tool to hear these pronouns in short dialogues.
How do German personal pronouns change in the accusative and dative cases?
When a pronoun is the direct object (accusative) or indirect object (dative), its form changes. Memorise the three‑step pattern: nominative → accusative → dative.
- ich → mich (acc) → mir (dat)
- du → dich → dir
- er → ihn → ihm
- sie (she) → sie → ihr
- es → es → ihm
- wir → uns → uns
- ihr → euch → euch
- sie (they) → sie → ihnen
- Sie (formal) → Sie → Ihnen
Example: Ich sehe ihn (I see him). Wir geben ihm das Buch (We give him the book).
Print a worksheet from German Buddy worksheets and fill in the correct case for each pronoun.
When and how are reflexive pronouns used in German?
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject. They appear in accusative or dative depending on the verb. The pattern mirrors the personal pronouns but always starts with mich, dich, sich, uns, euch.
- Ich wasche mich (I wash myself) – accusative
- Ich kaufe mir ein Buch (I buy myself a book) – dative
- Du erinnerst dich (You remember yourself)
- Wir treffen uns (We meet each other)
- Sie freuen sich (They are happy)
Practice these with the listen‑and‑repeat tool to hear the natural intonation.
Practical steps to master German personal pronouns today
- Write down the three‑column chart (nominative, accusative, dative) for each pronoun.
- Read aloud one sentence per pronoun in each case. Example: Er gibt ihr das Geschenk (He gives her the gift).
- Use the prompt generator to create 5 short dialogues that force you to choose the correct pronoun.
- Record yourself speaking the dialogues and compare with the app’s correction.
- Review the list of 30 example sentences at the end of this article and quiz yourself daily.
How to practice German personal pronouns with German Buddy
In the German Buddy app you can select the "Pronouns" topic in Conversation mode and role‑play a shop scenario. The app corrects your pronoun choice and offers a short tip, e.g., "Use mir for indirect objects after geben." You get 7 days of unlimited practice, then a free daily allowance that never runs out. start practising free.
FAQ
Do German personal pronouns have gender?
Only the third‑person singular pronouns reflect gender: er (he), sie (she), es (it). All other pronouns are gender‑neutral.
Why does "sie" appear twice in the pronoun list?
Lower‑case sie means "she" or "they" (plural). Upper‑case Sie is the formal "you" for both singular and plural.
Can I use the same pronoun for both accusative and dative?
Some pronouns keep the same form in both cases (e.g., uns, euch), but most change, so you must learn each case separately.
How often should I review pronoun tables?
Spaced repetition works best: review the table after 1 day, 3 days, and a week, then integrate the pronouns into real sentences daily.