heißen
to be called
To have a particular name.
EXAMPLE
Wie heißt du?
What is your name?
heißen
to be called / to mean
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Meanings
heißen
to mean
To mean or signify. Often used to ask about the meaning or consequence of something.
EXAMPLE
Er kommt nicht zur Party. Was soll das heißen?
He's not coming to the party. What is that supposed to mean?
es heißt
it is said
It is said or reported; it reads.
EXAMPLE
Es heißt, der Winter werde dieses Jahr besonders kalt.
It is said that the winter will be especially cold this year.
heißen
to order
To give someone an instruction or command; to tell someone to do something.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer hieß die Schüler, leise zu sein.
The teacher ordered the students to be quiet.
jemanden willkommen heißen
to welcome someone
To greet someone and show them that they are wanted or welcome.
EXAMPLE
Wir heißen Sie herzlich in unserem Hotel willkommen.
We warmly welcome you to our hotel.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with names
When you say what someone or something is called, the name is in the nominative. It is a simple structure: subject + heißen (to be called) + name.
EXAMPLE
Sein bester Freund heißt Thomas.
His best friend is called Thomas.
Use in the perfect tense
The perfect tense of 'heißen' (to be called) is formed with 'haben' and the form 'geheißen'. You use it to talk about the former name of something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Die Straße hat früher anders geheißen.
The street used to have a different name.
Fixed expression
The question 'Was soll das heißen?' (What is that supposed to mean?) is a very common fixed expression. You use it to express dissatisfaction or surprise about a statement or situation.
EXAMPLE
Du gehst ohne mich? Was soll das heißen?
You're going without me? What is that supposed to mean?
Sentence structure with 'dass'
The expression 'es heißt' (it is said) often introduces a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that). In this subordinate clause, the conjugated verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Es heißt, dass die Firma bald neue Mitarbeiter einstellt.
It is said that the company will soon be hiring new employees.
Register and style
The meaning 'befehlen' (to command) or 'anweisen' (to instruct) is very rare today and sounds formal or old-fashioned. You will almost only find it in literature.
EXAMPLE
Der König hieß den Diener, ihm Wein zu bringen.
The king ordered the servant to bring him wine.
Usage pattern
In the expression 'jemanden willkommen heißen' (to welcome someone), 'willkommen' behaves like a separable prefix. In a main clause, it comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Der Bürgermeister hieß die neuen Bürger in der Stadt willkommen.
The mayor welcomed the new citizens to the city.
Compare with
heißen vs sein
to be
When introducing yourself, sein and heißen can both identify a person by name. Sein makes a general statement of identity, while heißen specifically expresses what name the person has.
heißen
Guten Tag, ich heiße Anna Berger.
Hello, my name is Anna Berger.
sein
Guten Tag, ich bin Anna Berger.
Hello, I’m Anna Berger.
In real life
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