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Questions & Answers about Bitte sei höflich.
Why is it sei and not bist?
German imperatives use special forms. For the verb sein (to be), the imperative is irregular:
- Informal singular (du): Sei höflich.
- Informal plural (ihr): Seid höflich.
- Formal (Sie): Seien Sie höflich.
- Inclusive “let’s” (wir): Seien wir höflich. (stylistically formal; everyday German prefers Lass(t) uns höflich sein.)
How do I say this to more than one person informally?
Use the ihr imperative: Bitte seid höflich.
How do I say it politely to a stranger or in a formal context?
Use the Sie form: Bitte seien Sie höflich. Remember to capitalize Sie.
Can I move bitte around in the sentence?
Yes. All of these are fine, with only slight nuance differences:
- Bitte sei höflich. (neutral request)
- Sei bitte höflich. (focuses the “please” on the verb)
- Sei höflich, bitte. (tag-like, often softer or more insistent depending on tone)