Is "das ist" the same as "es ist"?

No — "das ist" points at something specific ("this is my car"), while "es ist" describes a general state, like weather or time ("es ist kalt," it is cold). Mixing them up is common at the A1 level but usually doesn't block understanding.

How do you say "this is not" in German?

Simply add nicht: "Das ist nicht mein Buch" (This is not my book). For nouns with an indefinite article, use kein instead — "Das ist kein Problem" (This is not a problem).

Do Germans really not use "jenes" anymore?

Rarely in speech — most native speakers rely on das plus pointing or context instead of distinguishing "this" from "that" formally. You'll still encounter jenes in literature, academic writing, and older texts, so it's worth recognizing even if you never produce it yourself.

Why does "this is" change to "hier ist" on the phone?

German phone etiquette follows a different convention than English, where callers identify themselves with "Hier ist [Name]" (Here is [Name]) rather than "This is [Name]." It's a fixed expression, not a grammar rule you need to derive — just memorize it as a phrase.

What's the difference between "das ist" and "das sind"?

"Das ist" is singular ("this is one thing"), while "das sind" is plural ("these are multiple things") — "Das sind meine Schuhe" means "These are my shoes." The verb changes to match the number of things you're pointing at, not the gender.

How to Say 'This Is' in German: Das Ist vs Dies Ist

Type "how do you say this is in german" into Google and you'll get a wall of conjugation charts before anyone actually answers the question. Here's the short version: "this is" translates to "das ist" in almost every everyday sentence. But German has a second, more precise option — and knowing when to use it is what separates textbook German from natural German.

The Quick Answer: "Das Ist" vs "Dies Ist"

"Das ist" is the phrase you'll use 90% of the time. It's the default, catch-all way to say "this is" or "that is" in German, and native speakers use it constantly in everyday conversation.

"Dies ist" is the more formal, grammatically precise version of "this is." You'll hear it in writing, presentations, and news broadcasts more than in casual chat.

Das Ist: Your Everyday Default

Use das ist when you're pointing at something, introducing a person, or reacting to what someone just said. It works regardless of the gender of the noun that follows.

Das ist mein Bruder. (This is my brother.)
Das ist total verrückt! (That is completely crazy!)
Das ist ein guter Podcast. (This is a good podcast.)

Notice that das doesn't change to match der Bruder, die Idee, or das Auto. That's the single most useful shortcut in this whole article.

Dies Ist: The Formal, Precise Version

Dies ist points at something specific and nearby, almost like underlining it. You'll see it in museum placards, formal emails, and news anchors introducing a topic.

Dies ist die zweite Ausgabe des Magazins. (This is the second edition of the magazine.)
Dies ist ein wichtiger Moment. (This is an important moment.)

Study Tip: If you're not sure which one to use, default to das ist. It's correct in nearly every spoken situation, and overusing "dies ist" can sound stiff, like a news anchor talking to your barista.

Das Sind: When "This Is" Becomes Plural

When you're pointing at more than one thing, swap ist for sind. "Das sind meine Freunde" means "these are my friends," not "this is my friends."

Das sind gute Nachrichten. (These are good news / This is good news.)
Das sind die Hausaufgaben. (These are the homework assignments.)

Why German Has Two Ways to Say "This Is"

German separates the neutral pointing word (das) from the gendered demonstrative pronoun (dieser/diese/dieses) because the language tracks grammatical gender even when English wouldn't bother. This distinction trips up almost every English speaker at the A1-A2 level.

In English, "this" and "that" don't change based on the noun they describe. In German, the demonstrative pronoun dieser shifts depending on whether the noun is der, die, or das.

The Dieser/Diese/Dieses Pattern

Gender	German Article	Demonstrative	Example
Masculine	der	dieser	Dieser Mann ist nett. (This man is nice.)
Feminine	die	diese	Diese Frau ist Lehrerin. (This woman is a teacher.)
Neuter	das	dieses	Dieses Buch ist gut. (This book is good.)
Plural	die	diese	Diese Bücher sind gut. (These books are good.)

This is different from the general "das ist" construction. When "this" refers to a specific noun already in the sentence — not just pointing generally — you need the matching form of dieser.

Study Tip: Say the sentence out loud without the noun first. "Dieser ist gut" sounds odd on its own, but "Dieser Mann ist gut" clicks once you attach the noun. Practicing with the noun attached builds the pattern faster than memorizing a chart.

"This Is" vs "That Is": Das, Dies, and Jenes Compared

German technically has three demonstrative options, though only two get regular use in modern speech. Understanding the difference helps you sound less like a textbook and more like a local.

Phrase	Meaning	How Often You'll Hear It	Best Use Case
Das ist	This is / That is	Very common	Everyday speech, casual introductions
Dies ist	This is (precise)	Occasional	Writing, formal speech, news
Jenes ist	That is (over there)	Rare	Literary or very formal contrast ("this one vs. that one")

Jenes has mostly faded from spoken German — most native speakers just use das and rely on context or pointing to clarify distance. Learning it is useful for reading older texts, but don't spend much study time drilling it at the A1-B1 level.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Most learners get tripped up in the same three places. Catching these early saves months of habit-breaking later.

Overusing "dies ist" in casual speech. It's grammatically correct but sounds formal, like walking into a coffee shop and saying "Behold, this is my order."
Forgetting the gender match with "dieser." Saying "dieser Frau" instead of "diese Frau" is one of the most common A2-level errors, according to grammar guides from duden.de, Germany's leading language authority.
Translating "this is" word-for-word in every context. English uses "this is" for phone calls ("This is Sarah"), but German uses hier ist or hier spricht instead — "Hier ist Sarah" or "Hier spricht Sarah."

The Phone Call Trap

If you've ever practiced German phone conversations, you've probably reached for "das ist" out of habit. Native speakers actually say "Hier ist [Name]" when identifying themselves on a call.

Because English speakers default to literal translation, this mismatch shows up constantly in early podcasts and dialogue practice. Once you notice it, you'll catch it in nearly every German phone scene in shows and podcasts.

How to Practice "Das Ist" Until It Becomes Automatic

The fastest way to internalize das ist is repetition through listening, not flashcard memorization alone. Grammar rules explain the pattern, but your ear needs reps to make it automatic.

Podcasts are especially effective here because native speakers use das ist constantly in natural, unscripted contexts. For a structured approach to building this kind of listening habit, check out this guide on German podcast listening, which breaks down exactly how to extract grammar patterns from audio.

A Simple 3-Step Drill

Listen for "das ist" in context. Pause a podcast episode every time you hear it and repeat the full sentence out loud.
Swap the noun. Take one sentence — "Das ist mein Hund" — and substitute five different nouns to build flexibility.
Test yourself with flashcards. Try our flashcard tool to drill das ist, dies ist, and the dieser/diese/dieses pattern until they feel automatic.

Study Tip: Record yourself saying ten "das ist" sentences about objects in your room. Play it back the next day — errors you can hear are errors you'll stop making.

If you want more reps on gendered nouns before tackling dieser/diese/dieses, this breakdown of die Katze and German declension is a solid, low-pressure place to practice the pattern with a single, familiar noun.

Conclusion

"Das ist" is your default answer for "this is" in German — it works in nearly every everyday sentence, regardless of gender. Save "dies ist" for formal writing, and switch to dieser/diese/dieses only when the noun's gender is doing grammatical work in the sentence.

Strengthen your foundation with regular podcast listening, since hearing das ist in real conversations locks in the pattern far faster than charts alone. Start with a five-minute episode today, and count how many times you catch the phrase in the wild.