verb
to address someone informally using ''du'', to be on first-name terms (to use ''du'')
B1
'duzen' means to address someone informally using 'du' or to be on first-name terms. It's a regular weak verb, non-reflexive, using auxiliary 'haben' (Perfekt: 'hat geduzt'). Use when switching from polite 'Sie' to informal 'du'; imperative and everyday social nuance important.
Examples
Darf ich dich duzen?
May I address you informally?
Im Deutschkurs duzen sich die Teilnehmer.
In the German class the participants use 'du' with each other.
Wir duzen uns.
We use 'du' with each other.
Details
Mnemonics
two people shaking hands and immediately saying 'du' to each other — they 'duzen' each other
sounds a little like 'dozen' — but think of 'do' as doing informal 'you' (du)
Notes
Duzen is a social/linguistic verb: it describes switching to the informal second-person 'du'. Use caution: in formal contexts people usually 'siezen' instead (use Sie). Regional and workplace norms vary.