English “her” can function as an object pronoun or a possessive, and German uses different forms for those roles. The right translation also depends on grammatical case and the noun that follows.
her in German = sie / ihr / ihre, pronounced approximately zee / eer / EE-reh.
How Do You Say her in German?
German commonly uses sie for “her” as a direct object, ihr for “to her” or some possessive forms, and ihr(e) as a possessive adjective.
Meaning: her (object or possessive; form depends on grammar)
Use sie when “her” receives the action directly, as in Ich sehe sie. Use ihr for “to her” with a dative verb or preposition. For “her book,” choose ihr Buch, with the ending determined by the possessed noun.
Different Ways to Express her
German distinguishes direct objects, indirect objects, and possessive determiners; English uses the same form “her” for more than one of these.
1. Sie — her as a direct object
Ich sehe sie. — I see her.. Sie is the accusative form used for a feminine singular person as the direct object of a verb.
2. Ihr — to her / for her
Ich helfe ihr. — I help her.. Helfen takes the dative case in German, so the pronoun is ihr. Dative prepositions can also take ihr, as in mit ihr, “with her”; see with in German.
3. Ihr / ihre — her (possessive)
ihr Buch / ihre Tasche — her book / her bag. The possessive stem ihr takes an ending that agrees with the thing possessed: Buch is neuter, Tasche is feminine.
4. Sie — formal “you”
Kann ich Ihnen helfen? — Can I help you?. Capitalized Sie is the formal “you,” not “her.” In the dative it becomes Ihnen, so capitalization and context matter.
her in German: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| German | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe sie. | I see her. | Direct object |
| Ich helfe ihr. | I help her. | Indirect object and dative |
| ihr Buch / ihre Tasche | her book / her bag | Possession |
| Kann ich Ihnen helfen? | Can I help you? | Formal address |
How to Pronounce sie / ihr / ihre
The pronoun sie is pronounced “zee.” Ihr sounds roughly like “eer,” with a German vowel. Capitalization does not change the sound, so grammar and the sentence context distinguish “her” from formal “you.”
Example Sentences Using her
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I know her.
Use: Sie is the direct object of kennen.
Meaning: We give her a book.
Use: Ihr is the recipient and takes dative case.
Meaning: That is her bag.
Use: The possessive ending -e agrees with feminine Tasche.
Frequently Asked Questions About her in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the German word for “her”?
It depends on grammar: sie is often direct-object “her,” ihr can mean “to her,” and possessive ihr changes ending with the noun.
When do I use sie?
Use sie for a feminine person as a direct object, as in Ich sehe sie (“I see her”).
When do I use ihr?
Use ihr for a dative object, such as Ich helfe ihr (“I help her”), or as the stem in a possessive determiner.
Why is ihr sometimes ihre?
The possessive ending depends on the gender, number, and case of the thing possessed: ihr Buch, but ihre Tasche.
Does capitalized Sie mean “her”?
Capitalized Sie is formal “you.” The forms can sound alike, so capitalization and sentence grammar distinguish them.
Summary: her in German
Use sie for “her” as a direct object, ihr for “to her,” and ihr with endings for “her” as a possessor. Capitalized Sie means formal “you,” so context is essential.
