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How to Say ‘What is your name, please?’ in German

Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?

vee ist eer NAH-muh BIT-tuh

[vee ist eer NAH-muh BIT-tuh]

💬 Usage Tip: Formal "Ihr" is used here. Literally: "What is your name, please?"

🇩🇪 In Germany: Medical staff may ask this first to identify you before discussing appointment details.

Phrase Breakdown

Wie

[vee]

how / what

In this question, Wie helps ask for information politely; with names, it corresponds to English 'what' in 'What is your name?'

Example

Am Telefon fragt die Sprechstundenhilfe: „Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?“

On the phone, the receptionist asks: “What is your name, please?”

ist

[ist]

is

A form of sein; it links the subject to information, like English 'is'.

Example

In der Frage „Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?“ ist „ist“ das verb.

In the question “What is your name, please?”, “ist” is the verb.

Ihr

[eer]

your

Formal possessive word used when speaking politely to one person, such as clinic staff or a patient.

Example

Bei „Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?“ ist „Ihr“ die höfliche Form von „your“.

In “What is your name, please?”, “Ihr” is the polite form of “your”.

Name

[NAH-muh]

name

The word for a person’s name; often asked when identifying yourself on the phone.

Example

In „Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?“ bedeutet „Name“ den Familiennamen oder vollen Namen.

In “What is your name, please?”, “Name” means the surname or full name.

bitte

[BIT-tuh]

please

Used to make a question or request more polite.

Example

Die Frage „Wie ist Ihr Name bitte?“ klingt mit „bitte“ höflicher.

The question “What is your name, please?” sounds more polite with “bitte.”

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