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This lesson focuses on "wir" (we), the first-person plural pronoun in German. "Wir" is one of the most essential pronouns in German, used when the speaker includes themselves as part of a group. Unlike English, German pronouns trigger specific verb conjugations, and "wir" always takes the first-person plural verb form, typically ending in -en.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ Schema (Plain Text): Q: What does "wir" mean in German? A: "Wir" means "we" in German - the first-person plural pronoun used when speaking about yourself and at least one other person as a group.
In the following 15 examples, you'll see "wir" used in various contexts - as the subject of different verbs, in different tenses, and in various sentence structures. This demonstrates how "wir" functions as the grammatical subject triggering plural verb conjugations.
Educational Schema: This is Lesson 21 of a German language learning course for English speakers, focusing on the pronoun "wir" (we) with interlinear glossing method.
Key Takeaways: -
"Wir" is the nominative (subject) form of "we" -
It always triggers -en verb endings in present tense -
The accusative/dative form is "uns" (us) -
"Wir" can be emphasized with "selbst" (ourselves)
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wir [viːɐ̯] - pronounced "veer" with a German 'w' sound (like English 'v') uns [ʊns] - pronounced "oons" with a short 'u' sound unser [ˈʊnzɐ] - pronounced "OON-zer" with stress on first syllable
Note: The German 'w' is always pronounced like English 'v'. The 'r' at the end of "wir" is very soft, almost like "vee-ah" in rapid speech.
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21.1 Wir we gehen go heute today ins into-the Kino cinema
21.2 Gestern yesterday haben have wir we Brot bread gekauft bought
21.3 Wir we wohnen live in in Berlin Berlin
21.4 Morgen tomorrow werden will wir we früh early aufstehen get-up
21.5 Wir we sprechen speak drei three Sprachen languages
21.6 Das the Buch book gehört belongs uns to-us
21.7 Wir we haben have einen a-ACC Hund dog und and zwei two Katzen cats
21.8 Können can wir we bitte please zahlen pay
21.9 Wir we müssen must jetzt now gehen go
21.10 Unser our Auto car ist is blau blue
21.11 Wir we sind are seit since fünf five Jahren years verheiratet married
21.12 Warum why kommen come wir we nicht not mit with
21.13 Wir we selbst ourselves haben have das that gemacht made
21.14 Am on-the Wochenende weekend fahren drive wir we nach to München Munich
21.15 Wir we freuen please uns ourselves auf on den the-ACC Urlaub vacation
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21.1 Wir gehen heute ins Kino → "We're going to the cinema today"
21.2 Gestern haben wir Brot gekauft → "Yesterday we bought bread"
21.3 Wir wohnen in Berlin → "We live in Berlin"
21.4 Morgen werden wir früh aufstehen → "Tomorrow we'll get up early"
21.5 Wir sprechen drei Sprachen → "We speak three languages"
21.6 Das Buch gehört uns → "The book belongs to us"
21.7 Wir haben einen Hund und zwei Katzen → "We have a dog and two cats"
21.8 Können wir bitte zahlen? → "Can we pay, please?"
21.9 Wir müssen jetzt gehen → "We have to go now"
21.10 Unser Auto ist blau → "Our car is blue"
21.11 Wir sind seit fünf Jahren verheiratet → "We've been married for five years"
21.12 Warum kommen wir nicht mit? → "Why don't we come along?"
21.13 Wir selbst haben das gemacht → "We did it ourselves"
21.14 Am Wochenende fahren wir nach München → "We're driving to Munich on the weekend"
21.15 Wir freuen uns auf den Urlaub → "We're looking forward to the vacation"
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21.1 Wir gehen heute ins Kino.
21.2 Gestern haben wir Brot gekauft.
21.3 Wir wohnen in Berlin.
21.4 Morgen werden wir früh aufstehen.
21.5 Wir sprechen drei Sprachen.
21.6 Das Buch gehört uns.
21.7 Wir haben einen Hund und zwei Katzen.
21.8 Können wir bitte zahlen?
21.9 Wir müssen jetzt gehen.
21.10 Unser Auto ist blau.
21.11 Wir sind seit fünf Jahren verheiratet.
21.12 Warum kommen wir nicht mit?
21.13 Wir selbst haben das gemacht.
21.14 Am Wochenende fahren wir nach München.
21.15 Wir freuen uns auf den Urlaub.
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Grammar Rules for This Passage:
The German pronoun "wir" (we) is the first-person plural subject pronoun. Here are the key grammatical points:
1. Verb Conjugation with "wir": -
Present tense: verb stem + -en (wir gehen, wir sprechen, wir wohnen) -
Past with haben: wir haben + past participle (wir haben gekauft) -
Past with sein: wir sind + past participle (wir sind gegangen) -
Future: wir werden + infinitive (wir werden gehen)
2. Case Forms: -
Nominative (subject): wir - "Wir gehen" (We go) -
Accusative (direct object): uns - "Er sieht uns" (He sees us) -
Dative (indirect object): uns - "Er gibt uns das Buch" (He gives us the book) -
Possessive: unser/unsere/unser (our)
3. Word Order: -
Normal statement: Wir gehen heute... (subject-verb-object) -
Question with modal: Können wir zahlen? (verb-subject-infinitive) -
Time expressions can move "wir": Gestern haben wir... (time-verb-subject)
4. Common Mistakes: -
Don't confuse "wir" (we) with "wer" (who) -
Remember "uns" serves as both accusative AND dative -
"Unser" must agree with the noun it modifies (unser Auto, unsere Katze, unsere Bücher)
5. Reflexive Usage: "Wir" often appears with reflexive verbs using "uns": -
Wir freuen uns (We are happy/looking forward) -
Wir waschen uns (We wash ourselves)
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In German-speaking cultures, the distinction between formal and informal address is crucial, but "wir" is neutral - it doesn't change based on formality. However, when including someone in your "wir" group, cultural sensitivity matters.
Inclusive vs. Exclusive "Wir": Germans are conscious of who is included in "wir." In business contexts, saying "wir" can mean "our company" or "our department." Be clear about your intended group.
"Wir-Gefühl" (We-Feeling): This important German concept refers to team spirit or group cohesion. Germans value this in workplaces, sports clubs (Vereine), and communities. The phrase "Wir schaffen das!" (We can do it!) became famous through Chancellor Merkel.
Regional Variations: -
In Austria: "Wir" might be pronounced slightly differently -
In Switzerland: Swiss German uses "mir" for "wir" in dialect -
Southern Germany: More likely to use "mir" in dialect as well
Common Expressions with "Wir": -
"Wir sehen uns!" - See you! (literally: we see ourselves) -
"Wie geht's uns denn heute?" - How are we today? (friendly greeting) -
"Wir sind dann mal weg" - We're off then (casual departure)
False Friends: The English "we're" sounds similar to "wir" but remember German "wir" already means "we are/we do/we have" depending on the verb - no contraction needed.
Reminder: Lesson for English speakers learning German
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Part F-A: Interleaved Text
From Goethe's "Faust" (simplified):
Wir we haben have viel much gelernt learned aber but wir we wissen know noch still nicht not alles everything
Die the Welt world ist is groß big und and wir we sind are klein small
Doch yet zusammen together können can wir we Großes great-things schaffen create
Part F-B: The Text from F-A
Wir haben viel gelernt, aber wir wissen noch nicht alles. Die Welt ist groß und wir sind klein. Doch zusammen können wir Großes schaffen. → "We have learned much, but we still don't know everything. The world is big and we are small. Yet together we can create great things."
Part F-C: Original Target Language Text of F-A Only
Wir haben viel gelernt, aber wir wissen noch nicht alles. Die Welt ist groß und wir sind klein. Doch zusammen können wir Großes schaffen.
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary
This passage demonstrates several uses of "wir": with perfect tense (wir haben gelernt), with present tense (wir wissen, wir sind), and with modal verbs (wir können). Note how "wir" maintains its form regardless of the verb tense. The passage also shows the philosophical use of "wir" to represent humanity collectively, common in German literature. The capitalized "Großes" is a nominalized adjective meaning "great things," showing how German can turn adjectives into nouns.
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
21.16 Kellner waiter was what möchten would-like wir we heute today bestellen order
21.17 Wir we hätten would-have gerne gladly die the Speisekarte menu bitte please
21.18 Können can wir we einen a Tisch table für for vier four Personen persons haben have
21.19 Wir we sind are Vegetarier vegetarians
21.20 Was what empfehlen recommend Sie you-formal uns to-us
21.21 Wir we nehmen take zweimal twice die the Pizza pizza Margherita Margherita
21.22 Haben have wir we schon already entschieden decided
21.23 Wir we möchten would-like auch also eine a Flasche bottle Wein wine
21.24 Dürfen may wir we mit with Karte card zahlen pay
21.25 Wir we waren were sehr very zufrieden satisfied
21.26 Nächste next Woche week kommen come wir we wieder again
21.27 Wir we haben have einen a Tisch table reserviert reserved
21.28 Um at wie how viel much Uhr hour schließen close wir we
21.29 Wir we teilen share uns ourselves das the Dessert dessert
21.30 Vielen many Dank thanks wir we kommen come gerne gladly wieder again
Part B: Natural Sentences
21.16 Kellner, was möchten wir heute bestellen? → "Waiter, what would we like to order today?"
21.17 Wir hätten gerne die Speisekarte, bitte → "We'd like the menu, please"
21.18 Können wir einen Tisch für vier Personen haben? → "Can we have a table for four people?"
21.19 Wir sind Vegetarier → "We're vegetarians"
21.20 Was empfehlen Sie uns? → "What do you recommend for us?"
21.21 Wir nehmen zweimal die Pizza Margherita → "We'll take two Margherita pizzas"
21.22 Haben wir schon entschieden? → "Have we decided yet?"
21.23 Wir möchten auch eine Flasche Wein → "We'd also like a bottle of wine"
21.24 Dürfen wir mit Karte zahlen? → "May we pay by card?"
21.25 Wir waren sehr zufrieden → "We were very satisfied"
21.26 Nächste Woche kommen wir wieder → "We'll come again next week"
21.27 Wir haben einen Tisch reserviert → "We've reserved a table"
21.28 Um wie viel Uhr schließen wir? → "What time do we close?"
21.29 Wir teilen uns das Dessert → "We're sharing the dessert"
21.30 Vielen Dank, wir kommen gerne wieder → "Thank you very much, we'll gladly come again"
Part C: Target Language Only
21.16 Kellner, was möchten wir heute bestellen?
21.17 Wir hätten gerne die Speisekarte, bitte.
21.18 Können wir einen Tisch für vier Personen haben?
21.19 Wir sind Vegetarier.
21.20 Was empfehlen Sie uns?
21.21 Wir nehmen zweimal die Pizza Margherita.
21.22 Haben wir schon entschieden?
21.23 Wir möchten auch eine Flasche Wein.
21.24 Dürfen wir mit Karte zahlen?
21.25 Wir waren sehr zufrieden.
21.26 Nächste Woche kommen wir wieder.
21.27 Wir haben einen Tisch reserviert.
21.28 Um wie viel Uhr schließen wir?
21.29 Wir teilen uns das Dessert.
21.30 Vielen Dank, wir kommen gerne wieder.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dialogue section showcases several important grammatical constructions with "wir": -
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II): "Wir hätten gerne" (we would like) - polite form -
Modal Verbs: können wir, dürfen wir, möchten wir - note verb goes to end -
Perfect Tense: wir haben reserviert, wir haben entschieden -
Simple Past: wir waren (we were) -
Reflexive Constructions: wir teilen uns (we share among ourselves) -
Question Formation: Both yes/no questions (Haben wir...?) and W-questions (Was möchten wir...?)
Note example 21.28 where a waiter might ask colleagues "Um wie viel Uhr schließen wir?" using "wir" to mean "we (the restaurant staff)."
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The Pronoun "Wir": -
Pronounced [viːɐ̯] - starts with a 'v' sound, not 'w' -
The 'i' is long (shown by ː in IPA) -
The 'r' is vocalized, not rolled
Related Forms: -
uns [ʊns] - short 'u' sound, clear 'n', soft 's' -
unser [ˈʊnzɐ] - stress on first syllable -
unsere [ˈʊnzərə] - schwa sound in final syllable -
unserem [ˈʊnzərəm] - dative endings add syllables
Common Pronunciation Errors: -
English speakers often pronounce 'w' as in "water" - it should be 'v' as in "vine" -
The final 'r' in "wir" is very soft, almost disappearing in fast speech -
Don't over-pronounce the 'r' - German 'r' varies by region
Spelling Notes: -
"Wir" is always capitalized at the beginning of sentences -
Unlike English, it's never contracted (no "we're" equivalent) -
Possessive "unser" changes endings based on case and gender
Regional Variations: -
Bavarian/Austrian: might sound more like "mia" -
Swiss German: "mir" in dialect -
Northern Germany: clearer 'r' sound -
Rhineland: softer, more French-like 'r'
Audio References: For authentic pronunciation, listen to German news broadcasts (Tagesschau, ZDF heute) where "wir" appears frequently in formal, clear speech.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating online language learning materials since 2006. This course uses the construed reading method, where each word is glossed individually to help learners understand the grammatical structure of German while building vocabulary naturally through repeated exposure in context.
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Cultural and linguistic notes for deeper understanding -
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The construed reading method, inspired by traditional Classical language pedagogy, has been adapted for modern languages to provide clear, systematic progression while maintaining engagement through varied, authentic content.
Each lesson in this series builds on core vocabulary while introducing natural language use, moving from simple constructions to complex authentic texts, preparing learners for real-world German communication.
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