Master the art of asking questions in German. Learn the difference between open-ended W-questions (W-Fragen) and yes/no questions, understand word order rules, and avoid common English interference mistakes.
There are two main types of questions in German. The first starts with a question word (interrogative) and tends to be more 'open'. The second starts with a finite verb and requires 'yes' or 'no' as an answer.
Click to switch between question types and observe word order patterns:
Where do you live?
Question word occupies first position, finite verb is second idea, subject follows
Click on any question word to see examples and usage notes:
Used to ask about people. Changes form by case: wer (nominative), wen (accusative), wem (dative).
Wer ist das? (Who is that?)
Wen hast du gesehen? (Whom did you see?)
Used for things and concepts. Important: Do NOT use "was" when asking for names or addresses!
Was ist das? (What is that?)
Was machen Sie? (What are you doing?)
Use wo when asking about a static location - where someone/something is located (no movement). Associated with dative case.
Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
Wo ist die Kirche? (Where is the church?)
Wo arbeiten Sie? (Where do you work? / For whom do you work?)
Common verbs with wo: sein (to be), liegen (to lie), stehen (to stand), wohnen (to live), hängen (to hang)
Use woher when asking about where someone/something is coming from (origin/source). Can be split: "Wo kommst du her?"
Woher kommen Sie? (Where do you come from?)
Woher kommst du gerade? (Where have you just come from?)
Common verbs with woher: kommen (to come), stammen (to originate), wissen (to know - "Woher weißt du das?")
Use wohin when asking about direction or destination - where someone/something is going (movement involved). Associated with accusative case. Can be split: "Wo gehst du hin?"
Wohin fährt Juliane nächstes Wochenende? (Where is Juliane going next weekend?)
Wohin gehst du heute Abend? (Where are you going this evening?)
Common verbs with wohin: gehen (to go), fahren (to drive/travel), fliegen (to fly), laufen (to run/walk)
Asks about time.
Wann beginnt das Konzert? (When does the concert begin?)
Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?)
Also used when asking for names, phone numbers, and addresses (NOT "was"!). Combines with other words for compound questions.
Wie heißen Sie? (What is your name? - lit. How are you called?)
Wie ist Ihre Telefonnummer? (What is your phone number?)
Wie ist Ihre E-Mail-Adresse? (What is your email address?)
Wie viel kostet das? (How much does it cost?)
Wie viele Einwohner hat Deutschland? (How many inhabitants does Germany have?)
Wie oft gehst du aus? (How often do you go out?)
Remember: It is incorrect to use "was" when asking for names or addresses!
Asks for reasons. Synonyms: wieso, weshalb
Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?)
Wo = static location (Where is it?)
Woher = origin/motion from (Where from?)
Wohin = direction/motion to (Where to?)
The most common way to ask what somebody does for a living:
Was sind Sie von Beruf? (What do you do for a living? lit. What are you by profession?)
The second type of question can be answered by a simple 'yes' or 'no'. It does not need a question word. Instead, the finite verb moves into the first position:
Statement: Peter kommt aus Berlin. (Peter comes from Berlin.)
Question: Kommt Peter aus Berlin? (Does Peter come from Berlin?)
German is much simpler than English! English often uses the verb 'do' to form questions. German simply moves the verb to the beginning.
German simply moves the finite verb to the beginning - no auxiliary "do" required!
Supply the missing question words from the list. Select the correct word for each context.
Available words: wo, wie, wie, wann, wo, was, wie, wie, woher, wie
Asking for a name - remember the special rule!
Asking about location (static)
Asking for contact information
Asking about workplace
Asking about profession
Motion involved - coming from somewhere
Asking about price (uncountable)
Asking about time
Asking for time (telling time)
Asking about quantity (countable - inhabitants)
Here is an interview with Oliver Gehrs, a well-known journalist. Reconstruct the questions based on his answers.
Build your question structure:
Translate the following questions. Use both the du (informal) and Sie (formal) forms for 'you'.
1. What is your name?
2. Where do you come from?
3. What is your e-mail address?
4. What is the time?
5. Are you married?
6. Do you have children?
7. Do you speak English?
1. What is your name?
2. Where do you come from?
3. What is your e-mail address?
4. What is the time?
5. Are you married?
6. Do you have children?
7. Do you speak English?
Select a scenario to see the most useful questions for that situation:
Wie heißen Sie? / Wie heißt du? (What's your name?)
Woher kommen Sie? / Woher kommst du? (Where are you from?)
Wo wohnen Sie? / Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
Was sind Sie von Beruf? / Was bist du von Beruf? (What do you do for a living?)
Wie ist Ihre E-Mail-Adresse? / Wie ist deine E-Mail-Adresse? (What's your email?)
Wo ist die Bank? (Where is the bank? - static)
Wohin fährt dieser Bus? (Where does this bus go? - direction)
Woher kommt der Zug? (Where does the train come from? - origin)
Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? (How do I get to the train station?)
Ist es weit? (Is it far? - yes/no)
Wie viel kostet das? (How much does it cost?)
Was kostet das? (What does it cost?)
Wo ist die Umkleidekabine? (Where is the changing room?)
Haben Sie das in Größe M? (Do you have this in size M?)
Wie viele möchten Sie? (How many would you like?)
Was empfehlen Sie? (What do you recommend?)
Wie ist das Tagesgericht? (What is today's special?)
Wie viel kosten 100 Gramm Mozzarella? (How much is 100g of mozzarella?)
Ist das sehr scharf? (Is that very spicy? - yes/no)
Woher kommt dieser Wein? (Where does this wine come from?)