German Phrase
Ich heiße Sarah.
Meaning
Literally ‘I am called Sarah’, which is the standard way to introduce your name in German. It uses the verb heißen, which is preferred over sein (to be) for personal names.
When to use
Use this sentence when meeting someone for the first time, answering the question ‘Wie heißt du?’ or ‘Wie heißen Sie?’, or signing up for a form that asks for your name.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IchheißeSarah
Pronoun Ich
First‑person singular pronoun, always capitalised in German.
Verb heißen (present)
Regular verb meaning ‘to be called’. Conjugates as ich heiße, du heißt, er/sie/es heißt, wir heißen, ihr heißt, sie/Sie heißen.
Name as proper noun
Names are not declined; they stay in the nominative case after heißen.
🗨In Conversation
Wie heißt du?
What’s your name?
Ich heiße Sarah.
My name is Sarah.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich heißt Sarah.
Verb must agree with the subject ich; the correct form is heiße.
Ich heisse Sarah.
Missing the sharp s (ß) after a long vowel; the standard spelling is heiße.
Ich bin Sarah.
Grammatically possible but less idiomatic for introducing a name; use ich heiße.
↔Alternatives
Mein Name ist Sarah.
My name is Sarah.
Ich bin Sarah.
I am Sarah.
Sarah heißt mich.
I am called Sarah.
Cultural Tip
In informal settings Germans ask ‘Wie heißt du?’ while in formal contexts they use ‘Wie heißen Sie?’ (capital S). The verb heißen is the go‑to verb for names; using sein (e.g., *Ich bin Sarah*) is understood but sounds slightly less natural. Remember to use the ß (or ss after a short vowel) in the written form ‘heiße’.