I'm translating the app into German and wondering if "you" should be "Sie" or "du" 🤔 What is the expected form in apps nowadays?
I'm translating the app into German and wondering if "you" should be "Sie" or "du" 🤔 What is the expected form in apps nowadays? 24 comments
@Gargron Hi Eugen, can I request new language for joinmastodon.org instead? https://crowdin.com/project/joinmastodon/discussions/49 Coming from Russian (you do speak it too, right?) it's always interesting to see what the convention is in different languages. I'm used to UIs addressing me formally (Вы == Sie) because everyone's been doing that since forever. But then in Spanish it's "tu", everywhere. German translation in Smithereen is also using "du". Thaal Sinestro, kinda yes, generally "ты" is only used with people around your age and younger (except when someone is serving you, then it's "Вы" regardless), your friends (and their friends), your relatives... It's complicated and I don't think there are formal rules on that. Some staff in some trendy coffee shops would sometimes use "ты" with their customers but I personally find that a bit cringy. @grishka @Gargron Maybe add a new language choice - "German (formal)" for those that don't like to get too close to their apps :) @Gargron use Du, it is fine I am an old fart and prefer it to Sie in apps and most online correspondence. @Gargron As far as I can tell, direct speech is usually avoided in apps in German, instead opting for a more indirect infinitive form when possible (although the past years have shown an increase of "du" in ads and apps alike). |
@Gargron good question - keen to know what you find out!