10 Question Words in German & How to Use Them

Overview

• Important for engaging with German speakers and understanding the language.
• Similar structure to English.

The 9 Question Words in German

1. Warum (why)
2. Wieso (why)
3. Was (what)
4. Wer (who)
5. Wie (how)
6. Wann (when)
7. Wo (where)
8. Wohin (where to)
9. Woher (where from)

Wie (How)

• Common early learning word.
• Examples:
  • "Wie geht's?" - How are you?
  • "Wie ist das Wetter bei dir?" - How is the weather with you?
  • "Wie komme ich zum Flughafen?" - How do I get to the airport?
• Different usage: "Wie heißt du?" - How are you called? (What's your name?)

Wie viel / Wie viele (How much / How many)

• Wie viel = How much
• Wie viele = How many
• Examples:
  • "Wie viel kostet das Ticket?" - How much does the ticket cost?
  • "Wie viele deutsche Bücher hast du gelesen?" - How many German books have you read?

Was (What)

• Similar to English "what".
• Examples:
  • "Was machst du denn hier?" - What are you doing here then?
  • "Was ist hier los?" - What's going on here?

Wann (When)

• Used similarly as in English.
• Examples:
  • "Wann kommt der Bus?" - When does the bus arrive?
  • "Seit wann lernst du Deutsch?" - Since when have you been learning German?

Wer (Who)

• Direct translation for "who".
• Examples:
  • "Wer sind Sie?" - Who are you?
  • "Wer kann mir helfen?" - Who can help me?

Warum (Why) / Wieso (Why)

• Warum is common, Wieso asks for more details.
• Examples:
  • "Warum ist der Himmel blau?" - Why is the sky blue?

Wo (Where)

• Refers to the current location.
• Examples:
  • "Wo ist dein Freund?" - Where is your friend?

Woher (Where from)

• Asks for origin.
• Example:
  • "Woher kommen Sie?" - Where do you come from?

Wohin (Where to)

• Asks for destination.
• Examples:
  • "Wohin fliegst du dieses Jahr?" - Where are you flying to this year?

How to Form Questions in German

• Sentence Structure:
  • Position 1: Question Word
  • Position 2: Verb (conjugated)
  • Position 3: Subject
• Extra details follow after position 3 if needed.
• Two verbs: First is conjugated in position 2, second at the end.
• Examples:
  • "Woher kommst du?" - Where do you come from?
  • "Was möchtest du zum Frühstück essen?" - What would you like for breakfast?
  • "Wo hast du das Hemd gekauft?" - Where did you buy that shirt?

Additional Resources

• Downloadable German Sentence Structure Cheat Sheet available.

Additional Notes

• Reader request for explanation of "Welch" and its variations (Welcher, welches, welchem, etc.)

For further learning, visit EmmaLovesGerman.com, and explore various learning resources and tips shared by Emma.