German Phrase
Spreche ich mit Frau Davis?
Meaning
This is a polite, formal way to confirm the identity of the person you are speaking to, most often used when answering the phone or when you have just met someone you are not sure about.
When to use
Use it at the start of a phone conversation, after a brief greeting, or when you need to verify you are speaking with the right person in a professional setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SprecheichmitFrauDavis
Verb conjugation (sprechen)
‘Spreche’ is the 1st‑person singular present tense of ‘sprechen’ (to speak).
Personal pronoun (ich)
‘ich’ is the subject pronoun and must match the verb form.
Preposition ‘mit’ + dative
‘mit’ always governs the dative case; proper names do not take an article, so the dative form is just ‘Frau Davis’.
Title ‘Frau’
‘Frau’ is a polite title equivalent to ‘Ms.’; it stays unchanged because the name follows directly.
Question word order
In yes/no questions the verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Spreche ich mit Frau Davis?
Am I speaking with Ms. Davis?
Ja, das sind Sie.
Yes, that’s me.
✕Common Mistakes
Spreche ich mit der Frau Davis?
Proper names do not take an article after ‘mit’; the dative is expressed by the preposition alone.
Ist ich mit Frau Davis?
The verb must agree with the subject; use ‘bin ich’ or ‘spreche ich’, not ‘ist ich’.
Spreche ich mit Frau Davids?
Do not add a genitive ‘-s’ to a surname; the name stays unchanged.
↔Alternatives
Ist das Frau Davis?
Is that Ms. Davis?
Spreche ich mit Frau Davis am Apparat?
Am I speaking with Ms. Davis on the line?
Ist Frau Davis am Apparat?
Is Ms. Davis on the line?
Cultural Tip
German phone etiquette is very formal. You usually state your own name first, then ask “Spreche ich mit Frau …?” or “Ist das Frau …?” Using the title ‘Frau’ (or ‘Herr’) shows respect. Avoid dropping the title in professional contexts, as it can sound overly familiar.