Say Freut mich! (froyt mikh), literally "pleases me", when you meet someone in German. The full sentence is Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen with someone you call Sie, or Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen with du. The usual reply is Mich auch! (me too) or Ebenfalls! (likewise). Shake hands at a formal first meeting.
- Short
- Freut mich!
- Formal
- Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
- Informal
- Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen.
- Reply
- Mich auch! / Ebenfalls!
- Level
- A1
Which version of nice to meet you fits the situation?
Freut mich on its own is the safe all-rounder, polite enough for a client and relaxed enough for a friend's flatmate. The longer versions just make the du or Sie explicit.
| German | Register | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freut mich! | Neutral | The default; add the person's name for warmth |
| Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. | Formal | Work, older people, anyone you call Sie |
| Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. | Informal | Friends of friends, classmates, children |
| Schön, Sie kennenzulernen. | Warm, formal | Lovely to meet you |
| Sehr erfreut. | Very formal | Sounds old-fashioned to many people |
| Angenehm. | Formal | Said with a handshake; a little stiff |
| Ganz meinerseits. | Formal | A reply: the pleasure's all mine |
Notice where zu goes. Kennenlernen (to get to know) is a separable verb, so zu slips inside it: kennen-zu-lernen, written as one word. Kennen lernen as two words is also allowed, but the one-word spelling is the usual one.
Kennenlernen or wiedersehen: does it matter?
It matters a lot. Kennenlernen is for a first meeting; wiedersehen means to see again. In a Contos A1 story, Anna and Julia are twins who have swapped lives for a week. Reading her sister's emails, Anna finds one from an architect she has never met:
Er schreibt: "Ich freue mich, dich wiederzusehen."The line also shows the full verb behind the short phrase. Freut mich is a shortened "es freut mich" (it pleases me); ich freue mich is I'm glad or I'm looking forward to it. Both work for meetings:
Ich freue mich, Sie endlich persönlich kennenzulernen.
I'm glad to finally meet you in person.
Formal: after emails or video calls.
Schön, dich wiederzusehen!
Nice to see you again!
Informal, for someone you have met before.
Es war schön, Sie kennenzulernen.
It was nice to meet you.
Said when you part.
Schön, dich kennengelernt zu haben.
Great to have met you.
Informal goodbye after a first meeting.
What happens when you meet someone in Germany?
In business and with older people, expect a firm handshake, eye contact and Herr or Frau plus surname: Freut mich, Frau Schulz. Among younger people and friends of friends, a nod, a wave or a hug is just as likely, with first names and du from the start.
Switching from Sie to du is a small event. Traditionally the older or more senior person offers it, often with a toast. You'll hear lines like these:
Wollen wir uns duzen?
Shall we use du with each other?
Sag ruhig du zu mir.
Feel free to call me du.
Ich bin übrigens Michael.
I'm Michael, by the way.
Giving your first name is often how du is offered.
The introduction itself is covered on how to say "my name is" in German.
Read The Swap Weeks at A1 and see how long the twins can keep their secret.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Freut mich?
Roughly "froyt mikh". Eu in German sounds like the oy in "boy", and the ch in mich is a soft hiss, like a whispered h at the front of the mouth.
Can I say Nett, Sie kennenzulernen?
You will hear it, but it sounds like a translation of English "nice to meet you". Freut mich or Schön, Sie kennenzulernen are the natural choices.
What is the difference between Mich auch and Ebenfalls?
Both mean "likewise". Mich auch (me too) is friendly and very common. Ebenfalls is a touch more formal and also answers wishes like Schönen Tag noch! (have a nice day).
Is Angenehm rude?
Not rude, but brief and formal. With a handshake in a business setting it is fine. In everyday life most people prefer Freut mich.