Question words in German are numerous and often confuse learners. However, this article will clarify the meaning and usage of the various types of question words. Let's get started!
In German, question words (Fragewörter) introduce W-questions (W-Frage). Questions that begin with question words such as: was, wann, warum, wie, wie lange, wie oft, wie viel, wo, wo her, wohin… cannot be answered with a simple yes or no (Ja/Nein), but must provide specific information. Below are the usage and meanings of the question words (Fragewörter):
Question word (Fragewörter) | Example |
Was (what) Asks about objects/things | Was ist das? Das ist ein Auto. (What is that? That is a car) |
Wann (when) Asks about time | Wann fährt Lisa zu ihrer Tante? Lisa fährt morgen zu ihrer Tante. (When is Lisa going to her aunt's? Lisa is going to her aunt's tomorrow) |
Warum (why) Asks about reason | Warum fährt Linh zu ihrer Tante? Ihre Tante ist krank. (Why is Linh going to her aunt's? Because her aunt is sick) |
Wie (how) Asks about manner/method | Wie fährt Linh zu ihrer Tante? Linh fährt mit dem Fahrrad. (How does Linh get to her aunt's? Linh rides her bicycle to her aunt's) |
Wie lange (how long) Asks about duration | Wie lange fährt Linh zu ihrer Tante? Linh fährt zwei Stunden. (How long does it take to get to Linh's aunt's? Linh cycles for 2 hours) |
Wie oft Asks about frequency | Wie oft fährt Linh zu ihrer Tante? Linh fährt zweimal in der Woche. (How often does Linh visit her aunt? Linh goes there twice a week) |
Wie viel ( how much/how many) Asks about quantity/amount | Wie viel hat Linhs Fahrrad gekostet? Linhs Fahrrad hat 500 Euro gekostet. (How much did Linh's bicycle cost? Linh's bicycle cost 500 Euro) |
Wo ( where) Asks about place/location | Wo wohnt Linhs Tante? Linhs Tante wohnt in Dong Da. (Where does Linh's aunt live? Linh's aunt lives in Dong Da) |
Woher/ Wohin ( from where/ to where) Asks about direction | Woher kommt Linh und wohin fährt sie? Linh kommt aus Hoang Mai und fährt nach Dong Da. (Where does Linh come from and where is she going? Linh comes from Hoang Mai and goes to Dong Da) |
Wie alt/jung? (asks about age) | Wie alt ist Linh? ( How old is Linh?) |
Wie lang? Wie breit? Wie hoch? Wie tief? (asks about dimensions/size) | Wie lang ist der Lkw? (How long is the truck?) Wie breit ist der Fluss? (How wide is this river?) Wie hoch ist das Gebäude? (How tall/high is this building?) Wie tief ist der See? (How deep is the lake?) |
Wo(r) + preposition | Example |
Worüber | Worüber sprichst du? (What are you talking about?) |
Womit | Womit fährt er gern? (What does he like to travel by?) |
Worauf | Worauf wartest du? (What are you waiting for?) |
Wovon | Wovon träumst du? (What do you dream about?) |
Woran | Woran denken Sie? (What are you thinking about?) |
Knowledge test
Question words in German (Fragewörter)
- 1.
______hast du das Buch geliehen?
- 2.
______ist der Mount Everest?
- 3.
______benutzt man einen Schraubenzieher?
- 4.
______ bist du gestern Abend gegangen?
- 5.
______dauert der Flug von Berlin nach New York?