How to Introduce Yourself in German: A Complete Beginner's Guide (A1/A2)

Learning how to introduce yourself in German is the very first step in your German-speaking journey. Whether you are preparing for a German language exam, attending a job interview, traveling to Germany or Austria, studying at a German university, or simply meeting new people, a confident self-introduction opens every door.

For A1 and A2 level learners, self-introduction is not just a lesson  it is a survival skill. The moment you say "Hallo, ich heiße..." (Hello, my name is...), you break the language barrier and start building real connections. German-speaking countries value directness and clarity, so knowing how to introduce yourself properly  both formally and informally  gives you an immediate cultural and professional advantage.

This guide covers everything: basic sentences, full introduction paragraphs, formal and informal styles, interview-specific language, common mistakes, vocabulary tables, and FAQs. Let's begin.

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 How to Introduce Yourself in German

To introduce yourself in German, use this basic format:

"Hallo, ich heiße [Name]. Ich komme aus [Country]. Ich bin [Age] Jahre alt. Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch."

(Hello, my name is [Name]. I come from [Country]. I am [Age] years old. I speak a little German.)

This 4-sentence structure covers name, origin, age, and language ability — everything needed for a simple A1-level introduction.

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Basic Self Introduction in German (Beginner Sentences)

Here are the most essential sentences every beginner must learn:

• Hallo! / Guten Tag! Hello! / Good day! Pronunciation: Hah-loh / Goo-ten Tahk
• Ich heiße Anna. / Mein Name ist Anna. My name is Anna. Pronunciation: Ikh HY-seh Anna / Mine NAH-meh ist Anna
• Ich bin 25 Jahre alt. I am 25 years old. Pronunciation: Ikh bin FÜNF-und-TSVAN-tsikh YAH-reh alt
• Ich komme aus Indien / Deutschland / Amerika. I come from India / Germany / America. Pronunciation: Ikh KOM-eh owss…
• Ich wohne in Berlin / München / Wien. I live in Berlin / Munich / Vienna. Pronunciation: Ikh VOH-neh in…
• Ich bin Student / Lehrerin / Ingenieur. I am a student / teacher (female) / engineer. Pronunciation: Ikh bin Shtu-DENT / Lay-reh-RIN / In-zheh-NYUR
• Ich spreche Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. I speak English and a little German. Pronunciation: Ikh SHPREH-kheh ENG-lish oond ine BIS-khen Doytch
• Ich lerne seit drei Monaten Deutsch. I have been learning German for three months. Pronunciation: Ikh LEHR-neh zite dry MOH-nah-ten Doytch
• Es freut mich, Sie / dich kennenzulernen. Nice to meet you. (formal / informal) Pronunciation: Es froyt mikh, Zee / dikh KEN-en-tsoo-LEHR-nen

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German Self Introduction Example Paragraph

Below is a complete self-introduction paragraph suitable for class, travel, or a casual meeting.

German:

Hallo! Mein Name ist Rahul Sharma. Ich komme aus Indien, aber ich wohne jetzt in Berlin. Ich bin 27 Jahre alt. Ich bin Softwareentwickler von Beruf. Ich lerne seit sechs Monaten Deutsch. Ich spreche Englisch, Hindi und ein bisschen Deutsch. In meiner Freizeit lese ich gerne Bücher und höre Musik. Es freut mich, euch kennenzulernen!

English Translation:

Hello! My name is Rahul Sharma. I come from India, but I now live in Berlin. I am 27 years old. I am a software developer by profession. I have been learning German for six months. I speak English, Hindi, and a little German. In my free time, I like to read books and listen to music. Nice to meet you all!

Pronunciation Tips:

• Softwareentwickler = Soft-vah-reh-ENT-vik-ler
• Freizeit = FRY-tsyte
• kennenzulernen = KEN-en-tsoo-LEHR-nen

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Formal Self Introduction in German

Formal introductions are used in job interviews, office meetings, academic settings, and official events. The key difference is using "Sie" (formal you) instead of "du" (informal you), and using more professional vocabulary.

Example — Formal Introduction:

Guten Tag. Mein Name ist Priya Mehta. Ich komme aus Indien und wohne seit zwei Jahren in Deutschland. Ich habe einen Abschluss in Betriebswirtschaftslehre von der Universität Mumbai. Ich arbeite derzeit als Marketingmanagerin und verfüge über fünf Jahre Berufserfahrung. Ich spreche fließend Englisch und Deutsch auf dem Niveau B2. Ich freue mich sehr, Sie kennenzulernen.

English Translation:

Good day. My name is Priya Mehta. I come from India and have been living in Germany for two years. I have a degree in Business Administration from the University of Mumbai. I currently work as a Marketing Manager and have five years of professional experience. I speak English fluently and German at B2 level. I am very pleased to meet you.

Key Formal Phrases to Remember:

• Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen — I am pleased to meet you (formal)
• Ich verfüge über... — I have / I possess (used for skills/experience)
• Ich bin derzeit tätig als... — I am currently working as...
• Ich habe einen Abschluss in... — I have a degree in...
• Meine Muttersprache ist... — My mother tongue is…

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Informal Self Introduction in German

Informal introductions work perfectly for college, making friends, youth hostels, language exchange partners, and casual social events. Use "du" and relaxed vocabulary.

Example — Informal Introduction:

Hey! Ich bin Jonas. Ich komme aus Hamburg, aber ich studiere jetzt in München. Ich bin 22 Jahre alt und studiere Informatik im dritten Semester. In meiner Freizeit spiele ich Gitarre und gehe gerne wandern. Ich lerne gerade Spanisch. Und du, wie heißt du?

English Translation:

Hey! I'm Jonas. I come from Hamburg but I'm now studying in Munich. I am 22 years old and studying Computer Science in the third semester. In my free time, I play guitar and like to go hiking. I'm currently learning Spanish. And you, what's your name?

Key Informal Phrases:

• Ich bin... — I am / I'm... (more casual than "Mein Name ist")
• Wie heißt du? — What's your name?
• Woher kommst du? — Where are you from?
• Was machst du so? — What do you do? (casual)
• Ich studiere... — I am studying…

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Self Introduction in German for Interview or Student Visa

For a job interview or student visa appointment, your German self-introduction needs to be structured, confident, and informative. Even if the interview is in English, opening with a German introduction makes an excellent impression.

Template for Interview / Visa Introduction:

Guten Tag. Mein Name ist [Full Name]. Ich komme aus [Country] und wohne seit [X] Monaten/Jahren in [City], Deutschland. Ich habe [Degree] in [Subject] an der [University Name] abgeschlossen. Ich bewerbe mich für die Stelle als [Job Title] / für den Studiengang [Course Name]. Ich spreche [Languages] und lerne aktiv Deutsch, um meine Kommunikationsfähigkeiten zu verbessern. Ich bin motiviert, fleißig und teamfähig. Ich freue mich auf dieses Gespräch.

English Translation:

Good day. My name is [Full Name]. I come from [Country] and have been living in [City], Germany for [X] months/years. I completed my [Degree] in [Subject] at [University Name]. I am applying for the position of [Job Title] / for the study program [Course Name]. I speak [Languages] and am actively learning German to improve my communication skills. I am motivated, hardworking, and a team player. I look forward to this conversation.

Power Words for Interviews:

• Ich bin teamfähig — I am a team player
• Ich bin belastbar — I work well under pressure
• Ich bin lernbereit — I am eager to learn
• Ich bringe Erfahrung mit in... — I bring experience in…

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German Self Introduction Dialogue

Here is a short, realistic dialogue between two people meeting for the first time — great for A1/A2 practice.

Anna: Hallo! Ich bin Anna. Wie heißt du? (Hello! I'm Anna. What's your name?)

Ben: Hallo Anna! Ich heiße Ben. Woher kommst du? (Hello Anna! My name is Ben. Where are you from?)

Anna: Ich komme aus Österreich, aus Wien. Und du? (I come from Austria, from Vienna. And you?)

Ben: Ich komme aus Kanada, aber ich wohne seit einem Jahr in Berlin. (I come from Canada, but I've been living in Berlin for a year.)

Anna: Interessant! Was machst du hier? (Interesting! What do you do here?)

Ben: Ich studiere Deutsch an der Freien Universität. Und du? (I am studying German at the Free University. And you?)

Anna: Ich arbeite als Ärztin in einem Krankenhaus hier. Es freut mich, dich kennenzulernen! (I work as a doctor in a hospital here. Nice to meet you!)

Ben: Mich auch! Bis bald! (Me too! See you soon!)

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Common Mistakes While Introducing Yourself in German

Even beginners can avoid these errors with a little awareness:

Important German Words Used in Self Introduction

Here's the refined, visually engaging version of the vocabulary table — broken into themed groups with added context:

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 Essential German Words for Self Introduction

Learning isolated words is hard. Learning them in context is easy. That's why this vocabulary list is organized by category, so your brain absorbs them faster and retains them longer.

 Greetings — Start Strong

🪪 Introducing Your Name

 Quick Tip: "Ich heiße" flows more naturally in speech. "Mein Name ist" sounds more polished in interviews or formal settings.

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 Talking About Where You're From

 Common Mistake: Never say "Ich komme von Indien." Always use "aus" for countries and cities.

 Age & Personal Details

 Profession & Study

 Grammar Note: In German, you never use an article after "als" for professions. Say "Ich arbeite als Lehrer"  NOT “als ein Lehrer.”

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 Hobbies & Interests

 Wrapping Up — Polite Closings

 Asking Questions Back — Keep the Conversation Going

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Golden Rule: Use "du" with friends, classmates, and people your age. Switch to "Sie" with strangers, seniors, professors, and in professional settings. Getting this right instantly makes you sound more fluent.

 Quick Memory Cheat Sheet

This grouped, example-rich format turns a plain word list into a mini phrasebook you can actually use in real conversations from day one.

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FAQs: How to Introduce Yourself in German

Q1: How do I introduce myself in German A1? At A1 level, keep it simple. Say: "Hallo, ich heiße [Name]. Ich komme aus [Country]. Ich bin [Age] Jahre alt. Ich lerne Deutsch." This covers the four basics: name, origin, age, and language learning — which is all you need at A1.

Q2: What is a simple self introduction in German? A simple German self introduction is: "Mein Name ist [Name]. Ich komme aus [Country] und wohne in [City]. Ich bin [profession/student]." This three-sentence format works in almost any beginner situation.

Q3: How do you say "My name is" in German? There are two ways to say "my name is" in German. You can say "Ich heiße [Name]" (literally "I am called") or "Mein Name ist [Name]" (literally "My name is"). Both are correct and widely used.

Q4: How do you say "I am from" in German? To say "I am from" in German, use "Ich komme aus..." For example, "Ich komme aus Indien" means "I am from India." Always use "aus" for countries and cities, never "von."

Q5: What is a German self introduction for a job interview? For a job interview, begin formally: "Guten Tag, mein Name ist [Name]. Ich habe [Degree] in [Field] und verfüge über [X] Jahre Berufserfahrung." Always use "Sie" (formal you), speak clearly, and include your qualifications, experience, and motivation.

Q6: How do you introduce yourself in German for a student visa? For a student visa interview, mention your name, country, university, course of study, and German language level. Example: "Ich heiße [Name], komme aus [Country] und möchte [Subject] an der [University] studieren. Ich lerne aktiv Deutsch."

Q7: What is the difference between "Ich heiße" and "Mein Name ist"? Both mean "My name is," but "Ich heiße" is slightly more conversational and direct, while "Mein Name ist" sounds a touch more formal. In everyday speech and beginner learning, both are completely interchangeable.

Conclusion

Knowing how to introduce yourself in German is the foundation of every German conversation you will ever have. From casual meetups to formal job interviews and student visa appointments, a clear, confident introduction tells people who you are, where you come from, and what you are doing — all in just a few sentences.

Start with the basics: your name, country, age, and profession. Then add hobbies, language skills, and goals as your German improves. Practice the example paragraph out loud every day. Record yourself. Repeat the dialogue with a language partner. The more you say it, the more natural it becomes.

Remember: every native German speaker appreciates the effort you make to speak their language — even imperfectly. Your first "Hallo, ich heiße..." is already a victory. Keep going.

Viel Erfolg! — Best of luck!