Nice to Meet You in German: Freut Mich + Replies

The simplest way to say “Nice to meet you” in German is Freut mich! It is a compact introduction phrase that avoids choosing a pronoun. To one familiar person, say Schön, dich kennenzulernen; in a formal introduction, say Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. A useful reply is Mich auch! (“Me too”).

Duden's entry for kennenlernen includes es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen as a formula used in introductions and gives kennenlernen as its recommended spelling. Its entry for freuen supports das freut mich and related pleasure constructions. These dictionary entries do not make one formula universal across every workplace or region.

Choose the introduction phrase for the person

German pronouns carry relationship information. Freut mich is useful because it works without du or Sie, while the longer forms make the choice visible.

Use dich with a person you address as du and Sie with a person you address formally. Freut mich is not grammatically “unfinished” in a way that makes it impolite; it is a conventional shortened response whose context supplies what pleased the speaker.

Pronounce Freut mich and kennenzulernen

Freut mich is roughly froyt mikh. The vowel in freut resembles the sound in English “boy,” beginning with rounded lips. The final sound in mich is the German ich-Laut, not the k in English “kick.” Use the German ich and ach sounds guide to practise that distinction inside real words.

Kennenlernen is approximately KEN-en-ler-nen, with primary stress near the beginning. In kennenzulernen, the infinitive marker zu appears inside the separable verb: kennen + zu + lernen. Say the whole phrase in chunks—Schön | dich | kennenzulernen—before trying to speed it up.

These cues cannot represent vowel length, the German r, or regional rhythm. Duden supplies a transcription for kennenlernen, but a learner still needs audio from a relevant speaker to assess production.

Why German uses mich, dich, and Sie

The phrase Es freut mich is built around something pleasing me. That is why it uses accusative mich, not nominative ich. In the longer expression, the person you meet is the object of kennenlernen:

• mich — me, in Freut mich;
• dich — you, one familiar du person;
• Sie — you, formal singular or plural;
• euch — you, several familiar people, as in Schön, euch kennenzulernen.

Capitalisation distinguishes formal Sie from other uses of sie in writing. Speech relies on the surrounding verb forms, names, titles, and relationship. Do not mix dich with formal Sie in the same introduction.

Duden permits kennen lernen as an alternative spelling but recommends the single word kennenlernen. Its past participle is kennengelernt, as in Wir haben uns gestern kennengelernt (“We met yesterday”). The phrase describes becoming acquainted, not already knowing someone well.

Build the whole introduction in three turns

A real introduction needs more than the courtesy formula:

1. Greet the person and give your name in the social frame already established.
2. Listen for their name, repeat it if useful, and choose Freut mich or a matching longer phrase.
3. Ask one light, relevant follow-up so the exchange can continue naturally.

For example:

Guten Tag, ich bin Maya Chen. — Guten Tag, Tobias Klein. — Freut mich, Herr Klein. Arbeiten Sie auch im Berliner Büro? — Ja, seit zwei Jahren.

Good afternoon, I'm Maya Chen. — Good afternoon, Tobias Klein. — Nice to meet you, Mr Klein. Do you also work in the Berlin office? — Yes, for two years.

The formal title and Sie question stay aligned. In a relaxed course or social group, the same structure can use first names and du.

Reply and keep the conversation moving

Useful replies include:

After replying, return to the purpose of the meeting. Ask Woher kommst du? only when personal background is appropriate; in work, An welchem Projekt arbeiten Sie? (“Which project are you working on?”) may be more relevant. The how are you in German guide offers check-ins without requiring private detail.

Names deserve care. If you did not hear one, say Entschuldigung, wie war Ihr Name noch einmal? in a formal exchange or Wie war dein Name noch einmal? with du. Confirming respectfully is better than guessing.

Social, course, online, and work examples

Meeting another learner

Hi, ich heiße Samira. Und du? — Ich bin Leo. — Freut mich, Leo. Welchen Kurs machst du? — Den A2-Kurs.

Hi, my name is Samira. And you? — I'm Leo. — Nice to meet you, Leo. Which course are you taking? — The A2 course.

The greeting and du question show a familiar frame. Do not assume every classroom automatically uses du; follow the instructor and group.

A formal first meeting

Guten Morgen, Frau Özdemir. Ich bin Daniel Price. — Guten Morgen. — Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. — Ganz meinerseits.

Good morning, Ms Özdemir. I'm Daniel Price. — Good morning. — It's a pleasure to meet you. — Likewise.

Use the good morning in German guide when the opening time matters. A title may be inappropriate in a workplace that moved to first names, so mirror the introduction offered to you.

Meeting online after writing first

Schön, Sie endlich persönlich kennenzulernen. — Mich freut es auch. Danke für Ihre Nachricht letzte Woche.

It's nice to finally meet you in person. — I'm pleased too. Thank you for your message last week.

Persönlich distinguishes the live meeting from earlier messages. Endlich can sound enthusiastic, but avoid it if the delay was sensitive or contentious.

Closing the first conversation

Es hat mich gefreut, dich kennenzulernen. — Mich auch. Bis bald! — Tschüss!

It was nice meeting you. — Me too. See you soon! — Bye!

The departure changes from present Freut mich to past Es hat mich gefreut. The German goodbye guide helps choose between Tschüss, Auf Wiedersehen, and a time-based closing.

Common mistakes and interpersonal boundaries

Saying Ich freue mich alone as the direct formula. It can mean “I'm looking forward to it” or “I'm pleased,” depending on context. Freut mich is the compact introduction phrase; add the infinitive when clarity matters.

Mixing dich and Sie. Say Schön, dich kennenzulernen with du or Schön, Sie kennenzulernen with formal Sie.

Using a departure tense at the start. Es hat mich gefreut, Sie kennenzulernen looks back on the meeting and belongs naturally near the end.

Turning the follow-up into an interrogation. A first introduction does not entitle anyone to information about age, marital status, salary, health, citizenship, religion, or another private subject. Ask something relevant to the shared situation and accept a brief answer.

German-speaking regions, industries, generations, and groups differ in titles, handshakes, eye contact, pronoun transitions, and small talk. This page does not prescribe physical contact or claim that one workplace convention is “the German way.” For diplomatic, legal, clinical, safeguarding, or high-stakes professional introductions, use qualified local language and protocol advice.

Limitations and commercial disclosure

Dictionary and teaching examples support these forms, spelling, and grammar; they do not measure current frequency in a specific community. English sound cues cannot certify pronunciation, and this article has not been represented as native-reviewed.

LinguaLive is a commercial language-practice product. Readers may rehearse the exchange with the AI German tutor or use the German learning hub, but simulated practice does not prove that a phrase fits a particular relationship or that proficiency will improve.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say nice to meet you in German?

Say Freut mich! as a compact answer. Use Schön, dich kennenzulernen with one familiar person or Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen formally.

How do you reply to Freut mich?

Reply Mich auch! or Freut mich auch. In a more formal exchange, Ganz meinerseits means “The pleasure is mine” or “Likewise.”

What is the difference between dich and Sie?

Dich addresses one person in a du relationship. Capitalised Sie is the formal “you” for one or more people.

Is kennenlernen written as one word?

Duden recommends kennenlernen as one word and also accepts kennen lernen. In Sie kennenzulernen, zu appears inside the compound verb.

Sources and editorial review

This guide was checked against its primary official or academic reference on 28 August 2026. Language usage can vary by region, relationship, and situation. Review the primary source.