German word

Ihnen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈiːnən/

Meaning

  • pronounyou

Example

Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Can I help you?

Illustration for Ihnen (you)

More examples

Ich schreibe Ihnen heute wegen der Rechnung.

I am writing to you today about the invoice.

Core concept

A formal addressee or group stands as the recipient of an action.

Common phrases

  • schreiben Ihnen

    write to you

  • mit Ihnen sprechen

    speak with you

  • etwas Ihnen erklären

    explain something to you

Similar words

dir: Informal dative form meaning 'to you' when addressing one familiar person.
euch: Informal dative form meaning 'to you' when addressing several familiar people.
ihnen: Third-person plural dative form meaning 'to them'.
Sie: Formal nominative form for addressing one person or a group respectfully.

Definition in German

Dativform des Höflichkeitspronomens Sie, gebraucht als höfliche Form des indirekten Objekts (z. B. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?).

Word origin

Ihnen is the dative form of the formal address pronoun Sie, historically based on the dative plural form of the third-person pronoun.

Usage tips

  • The capital I distinguishes formal Ihnen, meaning 'to you', from lowercase ihnen, meaning 'to them'.

Other meanings

  • you allpronoun

Word lists with this word