German word

wir

Pronunciation

IPA/viːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • pronounwe

Example

Wir gehen jetzt.

We're going now.

Illustration for wir (we)

More examples

Wir möchten einen Kaffee.

We would like a coffee.

Core concept

The speaker joins several others in one group viewpoint, whether they stand together or act together.

Common phrases

  • Wir haben Zeit

    We have time

  • Wir gehen

    We go

  • Wir möchten

    we would like to

Similar words

ich: Identifies the single speaker.
du: Refers directly to one person being addressed.
ihr: Refers directly to several people being addressed.
sie: Identifies several people who are not part of the conversation.

Definition in German

Drückt aus, dass mehrere Personen einschließlich des Sprechers gemeint sind.

Word origin

German wir descends through earlier Germanic forms including Old High German wir from Proto-Germanic *wīz, the same word family as English we and Dutch wij.

Usage tips

  • Wir includes the speaker but does not by itself specify whether the listener is included, so context determines the exact group.

Opposites

Word lists with this word