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Technical forums » Localization »
German: Use of Sie/du for localizing a learning platform
Thread poster: Annalisa Magnani
Annalisa Magnani
Annalisa Magnani
Italië
Local time: 06:47
uit Engels in Italiaans
+ ...
Sep 17

Dear Community,

I am carrying out my first localization job and I am being asked to post-edit and localize a learning platform on the topic of cybersecurity for the German market.
The original platform is in Italian, the tone is very informal and the scripts include a lot of jokes and metaphors. Still it’s a learning platform meant to be sold to external companies.
Would you use the Sie or the du form in German? The company would like to keep the tone informal and yo... See more
Dear Community,

I am carrying out my first localization job and I am being asked to post-edit and localize a learning platform on the topic of cybersecurity for the German market.
The original platform is in Italian, the tone is very informal and the scripts include a lot of jokes and metaphors. Still it’s a learning platform meant to be sold to external companies.
Would you use the Sie or the du form in German? The company would like to keep the tone informal and young but is it too impolite in German?

Thank you for your help! ▲ Collapse
 
CafeTran Trainer
CafeTran Trainer
Nederland
Member (2006)
uit Duits in Nederlands
+ ...
IKEA Sep 17

Annalisa Magnani wrote:

Dear Community,

I am carrying out my first localization job and I am being asked to post-edit and localize a learning platform on the topic of cybersecurity for the German market.
The original platform is in Italian, the tone is very informal and the scripts include a lot of jokes and metaphors. Still it’s a learning platform meant to be sold to external companies.
Would you use the Sie or the du form in German? The company would like to keep the tone informal and young but is it too impolite in German?

Thank you for your help!


Personally, I'd use the Sie-Form, but IKEA style is also possible:

Hej! Du hast die Kontrolle über deine Informationen und Daten
Wenn du uns durch Anklicken von "Alle Cookies akzeptieren" deine Einwilligung erteilst, greifen wir (Ikea Deutschland und unsere Partner) auf Informationen (z.B. Gerätekennung, Browserinformationen, Werbe-ID) und Daten (z.B. IP-Adresse) in deinem Endgerät zu und speichern Informationen (z.B. Cookies) in deinem Endgerät,  um unsere Webseite zu optimieren, um sie für dich zu personalisieren, um Kundensegmente zu bilden und um dir relevante Werbung auf Drittseiten und in sozialen Medien anzeigen zu können.
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
Italië
Local time: 06:47
uit Engels in Duits
+ ...
at your own risk Sep 17

This may sound a bit rude, but if you were a native German speaker, you wouldn't need to ask this question. Cybersecurity is a highly sensitive and technical topic, and "a lot of jokes and metaphors" implies a perfect grasp of the target language.
Edit: Not to mention the aspect of gender neutrality, which is often a key requirement.



[Bearbeitet am 2026-09-17 16:57 GMT]

Michele Fauble
Joakim Braun
 
Joakim Braun
Joakim Braun  Identity Verified
Swede
Local time: 06:47
uit Duits in Sweeds
+ ...
Du Sep 19

Given your description, I think "du" is unavoidable. I can't imagine "lots of jokes and metaphors" with "Sie".

Personally, I take offense at being "duzed" in any business context, it's jarring, intrusive and ingratiating.
Never was a thing before 2010 or so. But language evolves...

(There seems to be less "duzen" in news media over the last few years, perhaps there's hope!)

CafeTran Trainer
 
Joakim Braun
Joakim Braun  Identity Verified
Swede
Local time: 06:47
uit Duits in Sweeds
+ ...
Gendern Sep 19

Zea_Mays wrote:

Edit: Not to mention the aspect of gender neutrality, which is often a key requirement.



"Gendern" is a hugely important issue, whatever the view on this. Make sure to get the customer's instructions on it (and try to get paid by target word...)
 


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German: Use of Sie/du for localizing a learning platform


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