German word

ihm

Pronunciation

IPA/iːm/

Meaning

  • pronounhim

Example

Ich danke ihm sehr.

I thank him very much.

Illustration for ihm (him)

More examples

Ich gebe ihm ein Buch.

I give him a book.

Core concept

A male person stands at the receiving end of an action, as with someone being thanked, helped, or given something.

Common phrases

  • danken ihm

    thank him

  • helfen ihm

    help him

  • geben ihm

    give him

Similar words

ihn: Refers to a male person directly affected by an action.
er: Refers to a male person serving as the sentence subject.
mir: Refers to the speaker receiving something or benefiting from an action.
dir: Refers to the person addressed receiving something or benefiting from an action.

Definition in German

Dativform des Personalpronomens er, die den Empfänger einer Handlung oder das indirekte Objekt bezeichnet.

Word origin

Ihm is the dative form of er and continues older German forms such as Old High German imo and Middle High German im.

Usage tips

  • When both objects are pronouns, German normally places the accusative before the dative, as in Er gibt es ihm.

Opposites

Word lists with this word