The German Question Words

In this lesson for beginners, we'll look at what are often also called "question words." Actually, they are mostly either interrogative pronouns/interrogative adverbs or relative pronouns/relative adverbs, depending on the usage.

Let's begin with the word was and look at how it can be used in both interrogative and declarative sentences. In addition to meaning "what," was can also be translated in certain sentences as "something," "anything," or "that which."

Was machst du denn noch in deiner Freizeit? Joggst du gerne?

What else do you do in your spare time then? Do you like to go jogging?

Caption 8, Nicos Weg: Was macht dir Spaß?
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Und was man dabei auch bemerkt hat, ist, dass da kaum Eis ist...

And what you've also noticed is that there's hardly any ice...

Caption 29, WWF Deutschland Klimawandel hautnah:Was sind die Auswirkungen?
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The word wer may look like the English word "where," but it means "who" in German. Here is an example used in a question and also in a very common structure in which it means "anyone who" or "whoever."

Wer friert uns diesen Moment ein?

Who will freeze this moment in time for us?

Caption 2, Andreas Bourani: Auf uns
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Wer unnötige Begegnungen vermeidet, hilft allen, die sich in den Krankenhäusern um täglich mehr Fälle kümmern müssen.

Those who avoid unnecessary social interaction will help all of those in the hospitals who are having to take care of more cases every day.

Captions 49-50, Coronavirus: Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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The word wer serves as a pronoun and is therefore different in the accusative and dative cases. Whereas many people rarely use "whom" in English, the words wen and wem are not optional in German!

Weißt du, wen ich gestern getroffen habe?

Do you know who I ran into yesterday?

Caption 9, Deutsch mit Eylin: Menschen beschreiben
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Mit wem willst du denn Valentinstag feiern?

Who do you want to celebrate Valentine's Day with?

Caption 32, Nicos Weg: Feste und Feiertage
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The German word for "where" is wo. You may have already learned the variations woher and wohin in order to ask people where they are from and where they are going.

Sag mir doch zuerst einmal, wo das Bundesland liegt.

First of all, tell me where the state is located.

Caption 14, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Wohin muss man in Deutschland zuerst gehen, wenn man heiraten möchte?

Where do you first have to go in Germany if you want to get married?

Caption 3, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest
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Not to be confused with wenn, which can also mean "if," wann is the interrogative adverb for "when." It refers solely to time and not to probability. You can find a lesson on the difference here.

Wann kommt der nächste Bus?

When is the next bus coming?

Caption 23, Deutsch mit Eylin: Fragewörter
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The word wie has several meanings, because in addition to "how" it also can be translated as "such as" or "like."

Hier Daniel Müller am Apparat. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Daniel Müller speaking. How can I help you?

Caption 54, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch
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Ich liebe meine Freunde und wie wir miteinander sind.

I love my friends and how we are together.

Caption 12, AnnenMayKantereit: Ozean
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And finally we come to warum. Note that even though the word darum exists, it is only rarely translated as "because!" That would be too easy.

Warum ist denn hier nicht abgeschlossen?

Why isn't this locked here?

Caption 1, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt
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Further Learning
Next week we will look at how to say "whatever," "however," "whoever," and "whenever" in German. For now, notice how these question words are integrated into various sentences on Yabla German and watch Eylin's video Deutsch mit Eylin: Fragewörter.