Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
[froyt mikh zee KEN-en-tsoo-ler-nen]
Nice to meet you. (formal)
Literal gloss:“Pleases me, you to-get-to-know.”
When to use:Used with strangers, service staff, officials, doctors, and colleagues you address as Sie.
Word-by-Word Structure
| German | Meaning | Grammar Note |
|---|---|---|
| Freut mich | pleases me | Mich = accusative pronoun |
| Sie | you (acc. formal) | — |
| kennenzulernen | to get to know | Separable verb inserts -zu- between prefix and stem |
Example Sentences in Context
First business introduction
Ich bin Jonas Bergmann. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
I am Jonas Bergmann. Nice to meet you.
Warm workplace welcome
Sehr erfreut! Willkommen in unserem Team.
Very pleased to meet you! Welcome to our team.
Natural Alternatives
- Schön, dich kennenzulernen!Informal (du)
Informal version with "dich"
- Ganz meinerseits!Formal (Sie)
Reply meaning "The pleasure is all mine!"
Common Replies You Will Hear
- Freut mich ebenfalls!Formal (Sie)
Nice to meet you too!
- Ganz meinerseits!Formal (Sie)
Likewise / All mine!