Question Words
Question words (W-Fragen) are used to ask for specific information. They always begin with 'W-' in German.
These questions cannot be answered with just 'yes' or 'no' - they require detailed answers.
This lesson covers all the common German question words and how to use them correctly.
Explanation
Common question words: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), wie (how), warum (why), wohin (where to), woher (where from), welcher (which).
Question words always come first in the sentence, followed by the verb: 'Wer kommt?' (Who comes?), 'Was machst du?' (What are you doing?).
'Wer' asks about people, 'was' asks about things, 'wo' asks about location, 'wann' asks about time, 'wie' asks about manner, 'warum' asks about reason.
'Wohin' asks about direction (where to), 'woher' asks about origin (where from).
Common Question Words
| Question Word | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Wer kommt? | Who comes? |
| was | what | Was machst du? | What are you doing? |
| wo | where | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| wann | when | Wann kommst du? | When are you coming? |
| wie | how | Wie geht es dir? | How are you? |
| warum | why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? | Why are you learning German? |
| wohin | where to | Wohin gehst du? | Where are you going? |
| woher | where from | Woher kommst du? | Where are you from? |
| welcher | which | Welches Buch liest du? | Which book are you reading? |
Examples
Wer kommt heute?
Who is coming today?
Was machst du?
What are you doing?
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
Wann beginnt der Film?
When does the movie start?
Wie geht es dir?
How are you?
Warum lernst du Deutsch?
Why are you learning German?
Wohin gehst du?
Where are you going?
Woher kommst du?
Where are you from?
Common Mistakes
Wer du kommst?
Wer kommt?
In questions with question words, the verb comes immediately after the question word. No 'du' needed here.
Was du machst?
Was machst du?
The verb comes after the question word, then the subject. 'Was machst du?' not 'Was du machst?'.
Wo du wohnst?
Wo wohnst du?
Verb comes after question word, then subject. 'Wo wohnst du?' not 'Wo du wohnst?'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.