Telefonische Tischreservierung im Restaurant üben

What does “hiermit bestätige ich” mean in German?

Hiermit bestätige ich is the phrase that marks the switch into formal German. It means “I hereby confirm,” and the key word is hiermit — a compound of hier (here) + mit (with), directly parallel to English “herewith.” You won’t hear it in casual conversation, but it appears reliably in booking confirmations, official letters, and business phone callbacks. Learners who know only everyday German are often caught off guard when a professional voicemail opens with it.

In the clip, a restaurant employee calls Frau Müller to confirm a table for eight: “Hiermit bestätige ich eine Tischreservierung für acht Personen für morgen Abend den 15.03. um 19 Uhr.” The phrase functions as a performative opener — saying it is the act of confirming, much like “I hereby declare.” Beyond restaurant reservations, you’ll see it in rental agreements, appointment reminders, and HR letters. The hier- prefix appears in a family of formal German compounds: hiermit (hereby), hierzu (in this regard), hierauf (hereupon) — all hallmarks of the administrative register German calls Amtssprache.