German word

heißen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhaɪ̯sən/

Meaning

  • verbbe called

Example

Ich heiße Maria.

My name is Maria.

Illustration for heißen (be called)

More examples

Er heißt Thomas.

He is called Thomas.

Core concept

A spoken label links a person to a name, or a word to what it signifies.

Common phrases

  • Wie heißt du?

    What are you called?

  • Ich heiße Maria.

    I am called Maria

  • Wie heißt das?

    What is that called?

Similar words

nennen: Assigns a name to a person or thing or calls it by that name.
lauten: Gives the wording of a name, answer, or statement.
sich nennen: Presents oneself or a group under a chosen name.

Definition in German

Einen Namen tragen; sagen, wie jemand genannt wird

Word origin

Heissen descends through Middle High German heißen and Old High German heizan from the inherited Germanic verb *haitaną, meaning to call or name.

Usage tips

  • In Wie heißt du? and Wie heißen Sie?, the verb asks for a name, while Was heißt das? asks for a meaning.

Other meanings

  • meanverb

Word lists with this word