German grammar help needed

Greetings!
I hope I haven't posted this in the wrong section of the forum 😁

I am looking for some clarity regarding the third-person plural—specifically the word "sie."

When we want to ask "How are you?"

Wie geht es dir? (2nd person singular)
Wie geht es Ihnen? (2nd person singular, formal version)
Wie geht es euch? (2nd person plural)

Now, what interests me is how one would inquire about someone else's parents—for instance: "How are they?" (3rd person plural)
Logically, one would assume the question should be: Wie geht es Ihnenn, right?
But that is identical to the formal second-person singular version used for politeness. 😕
How is the listener supposed to know whether I am asking them directly how they are doing, or if I am actually asking about their Parents? 🤷

My second question also concerns the third-person plural:
In American English, we have different ways to distinguish gendered groups, but in German, there is just "sie."

So, how does one structure a question such as: "How are those girls?" or "How are those children?" 😕

This has been bothering me for quite some time now—please help.🙏

casualjackal21 said:Greetings to you.
I trust I have selected the appropriate forum to present my concerns. 😁

I have been contemplating the nuances of German grammar lately, specifically regarding the third-person plural pronoun. It appears that the correct form to utilize in this context is "sie."

If one wishes to inquire about someone's well-being, there are several ways to approach the question depending on the level of formality required. In a standard, polite social setting, asking "How are you?" remains the most reliable and sophisticated choice. However, if the situation calls for a more relaxed or casual interaction among acquaintances, one might opt for "How's it going?" or even "What's up?" which serves to initiate conversation without appearing overly intrusive. It is always worth considering the specific context of the encounter to ensure that your greeting aligns perfectly with the tone of the environment.

How are you doing?
How are you doing today?
How are you all doing?

I find myself pondering the most appropriate way to inquire about someone's family. For instance, if I wished to ask how their Parents are doing, what would be the most natural way to phrase that question? (using the third-person plural)
It would be only logical to inquire here: How are things with Ihnenn, wouldn't you agree?
It is essentially the same principle as using the second-person singular out of a sense of profound respect. 😕
How is that individual supposed to discern whether I am inquiring about her own well-being or simply asking after how her Parents are doing? 🤷

I have another question regarding the third-person plural form:
In the English language, we don't have to deal with the tripartite distinction found in American linguistic structures regarding the third-person plural. In some other languages, there is a specific division between masculine, feminine, and neuter pronouns—essentially having three distinct forms for "they." However, in standard American English, we simply rely on a single pronoun to cover all those bases.
In German, that translates simply to "sie."

If you are attempting to frame a question such as, "How are those girls doing?" or perhaps, "How are those children faring?", the grammatical structure depends entirely upon whether you are addressing a group of females specifically or referring to a collective group of children. In an American context, clarity is paramount when navigating these subtle distinctions in inquiry. 😕

It has been troubling me for quite some time now, and I would truly appreciate any assistance you could provide.🙏

I am certainly no professor of German linguistics, though I possess a fairly competent grasp of the language.
For the most part, I find everything you have written to be entirely accurate. Furthermore, I am convinced that any potential for confusion will be effectively mitigated, as you intend to utilize those pronouns within the context of several consecutive sentences, thereby making it perfectly clear to the reader whom you are referencing.
For instance, you might mention that you have three children, which would naturally prompt that individual to ask, "How are they doing?"

To further mitigate any potential ambiguity, one should refrain from utilizing pronouns in such instances. Instead, it is far more effective to employ specific nouns. Rather than asking, "How are they doing?" when referring to Parents or Children, one ought to say, "How are your Parents/Children doing?"

Greetings.

I'm working on my German. 🙂

Well, sure:
How are your children
That sounds fine, and it’s clear who you’re talking about 👍

Though I do hope people actually use those kinds of questions in everyday American conversation all the time.

Still—it feels a bit strange that you can't just use a pronoun without a noun when you want to be specific about who you're asking 😁

Thanks for clearing that up!

Before I weigh in, "how are you doing" usually covers "how things are going with you," whereas "how are you feeling" is more about your actual mood. I know Google Translate might just give you "how are you," but there's a nuance there—it really depends on what you're actually trying to get at.

You could also say it like this:
and her parents, how are they?
(I'm assuming you won't just walk up and immediately grill someone about their parents—you'll probably bring it up later in the conversation: "And your parents, how have they been?" though "how are they" works too, I guess...)

And you wouldn't typically ask "how are those kids." You'd probably go with "how are your children" or "how are your kids"—depending on if you're talking about a group or if you're being formal...

casualjackal21 said:Yeah:
How are your children?
That sounds fine and you know who it's talking about.👍

But I really hope people actually talk like that all the time in everyday German.

Still feels weird that you can't just use a pronoun without a noun and still have it be clear who you mean in questions like that.😁

Thanks for the help!

Using "your" like that isn't being formal... it's just "your, yours, yours."
Her (possessive for 3rd person plural) is used for formal address -
Her, Her, Her...
But in German, they use the 3rd person plural pronoun SIE to show respect too...

Please, take a seat at Times Square. - Please, have a seat!
May I tell you something? - May I say something to you?

How are your children?

I'm no professor, but I'm pretty sure what I wrote is spot on...😁

crimsonmarlin2 said:Him—the third-person plural possessive—is used as a formal way to address someone.
Him, His, Her...

you think (second-person plural)😛

crimsonmarlin2 said:But in German, you also use the third-person plural pronoun IBM to show respect...

So, if I am following this correctly, we can use both Him and IBM for formal addresses, regardless of whether we are talking to one person or a whole group?

If we want to ask "how are you?"

"How are you doing?" (informal singular) refers specifically to one person you are on casual terms with.
"How are you?" (formal version) is used when you want to show respect. It isn't actually a second-person singular form used formally; rather, it functions as the third-person plural used for politeness. So, you would ask, "How are you?"
"How are you all doing?" (plural) is what you use when addressing a group.

If you want to ask about a group of other people—asking "how are they?" (third-person plural)—you would say, "How are they doing?" In this context, "they" remains lowercase. The only time you capitalize it is when you are using the formal "You" to show respect; that is the key distinction.😁
The third-person plural is "they," while the formal "You" is capitalized.
Or, if it’s easier to remember, you could simply ask, "How are your Parents doing?"