German · Greetings & Phrases
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name? (formal)
Beginnerphrase
Definition
A formal question asking for a name.
Example
Wie heißen Sie? Ich heiße Anna.
What is your name? My name is Anna.
Etymology
'Wie heißen Sie?' means 'What is your name?' and combines 'wie' (how) with 'heißen' (to be called). It is a standard polite inquiry in German.
How & Where It’s Used
This phrase is formal and typically used in introductions, suitable for both spoken and written forms.