Question Words

1. Wat?

   What?

   Usage

   The question word for "what". For a polite "pardon?" say Wat gelift?

   Grammar Note

   The interrogative pronoun wat is "what" (German was)

2. Wou?

   Where?

   Usage

   The question word for "where"

   Grammar Note

   Wou is "where" (German wo); "from where" is vu wou

3. Wéini?

   When?

   Usage

   The question word for "when"

   Grammar Note

   Wéini asks about time (German wann); the word wann is only a conjunction meaning "if / when"

4. Wien?

   Who?

   Usage

   The question word for "who"

   Grammar Note

   Wien is "who"; before a consonant outside n d t z h it is written wie (n-rule)

5. Firwat?

   Why?

   Usage

   The question word for "why"

   Grammar Note

   Firwat is written as one word and means "why" (German warum)

6. Wéi?

   How?

   Usage

   The question word for "how"

   Grammar Note

   As a question word wéi is "how" (German wie)

7. Wéi vill?

   How many? / How much?

   Usage

   Asks about number or amount. For prices use Wéi vill kascht dat?

   Grammar Note

   Wéi vill covers both number and amount; with a noun say e.g. Wéi vill Leit? (how many people)

8. Wéi vill kascht dat?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The standard question for asking a price when shopping

   Grammar Note

   Kaschten is "to cost"; the thing being priced is the subject (wéi vill kascht dat?)

9. Wat fir een?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Used to ask which of several things is meant. Composed from dictionary-verified words

   Grammar Note

   Wat fir + article + noun with the noun left out (composed from dictionary-verified words); feminine and plural take eng

10. Wat ass dat?

    What is this?

    Usage

    The basic question when pointing at an unknown thing or dish

    Grammar Note

    The 3rd person of sinn is ass; the verb follows the question word (V2 order)

11. Wou ass d'Toilette?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most useful questions. Signs are often French (Toilettes) or English (WC)

    Grammar Note

    Toilette is feminine and takes d'. The apostrophe is ASCII with no following space

12. Wéi vill Auer ass et?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time. The answer has the form Et ass dräi Auer (it is three o'clock)

    Grammar Note

    Clock time is asked with Auer; Stonn is a length of time

13. Hutt Dir dat?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks a shop assistant whether something is available. Composed from dictionary-verified words

    Grammar Note

    The Dir form of hunn is hutt. Composed from dictionary-verified words; the verb comes first in the question

14. Geet dat?

    Is that possible? / Does that work?

    Usage

    Checks whether a request or arrangement is possible or acceptable. Composed from dictionary-verified words

    Grammar Note

    The 3rd person geet of goen can mean "works, is acceptable" (dictionary: dat geet net). Composed from dictionary-verified words

15. Kascht dat eppes?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Checks whether a service or item costs anything. Composed from dictionary-verified words

    Grammar Note

    Eppes is "something", so the sentence literally asks whether it costs anything. Composed from dictionary-verified words

16. Ass dat gratis?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Asks whether admission or a service is free

    Grammar Note

    Gratis is an adjective meaning free of charge, as in den Entrée ass gratis

17. Ass dat an der Rei?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is all right

    Grammar Note

    An der Rei sinn means "to be fine"; also in et ass alles an der Rei

18. Ass dat net erlaabt?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Checks whether something such as photography or entry is not allowed.

    Grammar Note

    Erlaabt means allowed; net erlaabt means not allowed. Composed from dictionary-verified words

19. Geet et Iech gutt?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    A polite way to check on someone who looks unwell. Wéi geet et Iech? is the greeting form

    Grammar Note

    Wellbeing uses goen with the person in the dative (Iech)

20. Wierklech?

    Really?

    Usage

    A one-word reaction of surprise or confirmation

    Grammar Note

    Wierklech means "real, really" (German wirklich)

21. Sidd Dir sécher?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Checks what someone has said

    Grammar Note

    The Dir form of sinn is sidd; sécher means "sure"

22. Vu wou kommt Dir?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks where someone is from

    Grammar Note

    "From where" is vu wou; the Dir form of kommen is kommt

23. Wéi heescht Dir?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask a name; to a friend use Wéi heeschs du? (heeschen also has a sense "to beg", but this phrase is the ordinary name question)

    Grammar Note

    Names are asked with heeschen "to be called"; the Dir form is heescht. The answer is Ech heesche + name (Ech heeschen before a vowel or n d t z h)

24. Wéi al sidd Dir?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks age; it can sound intrusive with strangers, so use it with people you know

    Grammar Note

    Age is asked with wéi al sinn; informally wéi al bass du?

25. Däerfe mir zesummen eng Foto maachen?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Asks someone for a photo together. Composed from dictionary-verified words

    Grammar Note

    Däerfen drops its n before m (däerfe) while zesummen keeps it before the vowel e (n-rule). Foto is feminine. Composed from dictionary-verified words

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