Volker Eichener
Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf
Studied Political Science & Sociology at Ruhr University BochumGraduated 1999
... and do not use honorifics like Mr. or Mrs.?
Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf
Absolutely untrue.
Strangers usually adress each other as “Herr [last name]” (male) or “Frau [last name]” (female). Also, you mention academic titles like “Herr Professor XY” or “Frau Doktor XZ”. If you omit the honorific you are considered very rude. You also use a special grammatical form to adress each other, the “Sie” (instead of the familiar “Du”).
If you are becoming friends, you agree to change to the first name and “Du”, often in form of a brief ceremony that involves interlocking arms and having a drink together.
Exceptions apply for special communities:
- In the Social Democratic Party and in Trade Unions members use “Genosse [last name]” (= comrade) + Du or “Kollege [last name]” + Du.
- In sports, people use first names + Du.
- Students use first names + du (used to be different some 100 years ago).
- In colloquial situations (like in an informal bar, in a rock concert) people use Du.
- At workplaces, colleagues who are on the same hierarchical level often use first name + Du. For adressing higher ranking officers, formalities are even more important, however. In business environments, this is a highly sensible matter. Better start with “Herr” and “Frau” and see, how things evolve.
