German Phrase
Hi, ich bin Daniel. Und du?
Meaning
A friendly self‑introduction followed by a quick invitation for the other person to introduce themselves. It literally means “Hi, I am Daniel. And you?” and is used in informal, face‑to‑face encounters.
When to use
Use this phrase when meeting peers, classmates, coworkers in a relaxed setting, or when you want to break the ice in a casual conversation. It is too informal for business meetings with strangers or older people you should address with “Sie”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hi,ichbinDaniel.Unddu?
Hi
A casual, English‑style greeting that is widely used in German among friends.
ich
First‑person singular pronoun meaning “I”.
bin
Present‑tense form of the verb sein (to be) for the first person singular.
Und du?
A short, inverted question meaning “And you?”; the verb bist is omitted because it is understood.
🗨In Conversation
Hi, ich bin Daniel. Und du?
Hi, I’m Daniel. And you?
Ich bin Anna. Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen!
I’m Anna. Nice to meet you!
✕Common Mistakes
Hi, ich bin Daniel. Und bist du?
When you already used “ich bin …”, the follow‑up question drops the verb; saying “Und bist du?” sounds redundant.
Hi, ich bin Daniel, und du?
A comma is acceptable, but the period after the first sentence is more natural in spoken German.
Hi, ich bin Daniel. Und Sie?
Mixing informal “Hi” with the formal “Sie” is inconsistent; either keep everything informal or everything formal.
↔Alternatives
Hallo, ich heiße Daniel. Und du?
Hello, my name is Daniel. And you?
Servus, ich bin Daniel. Und du?
Hey, I’m Daniel. And you?
Moin, ich bin Daniel. Und du?
Hi, I’m Daniel. And you?
Cultural Tip
In German, “Hi” is perfectly acceptable among friends and younger people, but “Hallo” is a safer neutral greeting for mixed‑age groups. The short question “Und du?” is informal; in a more polite setting you would say “Und Sie?” (using the formal ‘Sie’). Also, Germans often follow a self‑introduction with a handshake or a friendly nod, depending on the region.

