Meaning
Expressing great pleasure or happiness.
Cultural Background
Germans value punctuality and formal introductions. Using this phrase shows you respect their social norms. Austrians are often even more formal than Germans. 'Es freut mich sehr' is highly appreciated. Swiss German culture is polite and reserved. This phrase fits perfectly in professional Swiss settings. In international business, using the local language's polite form shows effort and respect.
Smile!
Always smile when saying this. It makes the phrase sound genuine.
Don't overdo it
Don't say it to everyone you meet in a grocery store. It's for formal or semi-formal introductions.
Meaning
Expressing great pleasure or happiness.
Smile!
Always smile when saying this. It makes the phrase sound genuine.
Don't overdo it
Don't say it to everyone you meet in a grocery store. It's for formal or semi-formal introductions.
Body language
Combine with a firm handshake for maximum impact.
Formal vs Informal
Use 'Sie' with this phrase. If you use 'du', it sounds weird.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct word.
Es freut mich ____, Sie kennenzulernen.
The standard phrase is 'Es freut mich sehr'.
Choose the most formal option.
Which is the most formal way to greet someone?
Using 'Sie' and the full phrase is the most formal.
Match the phrase with its context.
Match: 1. Es freut mich sehr, Sie zu treffen. 2. Freut mich!
The full phrase is formal; the short phrase is casual.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ich bin Herr Müller.' B: '____, Herr Müller.'
This is the standard polite response to an introduction.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEs freut mich ____, Sie kennenzulernen.
The standard phrase is 'Es freut mich sehr'.
Which is the most formal way to greet someone?
Using 'Sie' and the full phrase is the most formal.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The full phrase is formal; the short phrase is casual.
A: 'Ich bin Herr Müller.' B: '____, Herr Müller.'
This is the standard polite response to an introduction.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it sounds too formal. Use 'Freut mich!' instead.
No, you can use it for good news too.
It is an impersonal subject.
Yes, but it means 'I am happy' in a different way.
No, it's just less emphatic.
It's still perfectly fine.
Yes, it's very common in business emails.
Usually, you use it at the beginning.
Yes, it's standard German.
Using it with 'du'.
Related Phrases
Freut mich
specialized formPleased to meet you
Sehr erfreut
synonymVery pleased
Ich freue mich darauf
builds onI am looking forward to it
Es freut mich, dass...
builds onI am happy that...
