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The interrogative pronoun "was" (what) is fundamental to forming questions in German and appears in countless daily interactions. For autodidact students, mastering "was" opens the door to information gathering and natural conversation patterns in German.
This lesson is part of the comprehensive German course available at: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does "was" mean in German? "Was" is the interrogative pronoun meaning "what" in English. It's used to ask about things, situations, or abstract concepts. Unlike English, "was" never changes form - it remains the same whether it's the subject or object of the sentence.
In our 15 examples, you'll encounter "was" in direct questions (Was ist das?), indirect questions (Ich weiß nicht, was er meint), relative clauses (alles, was...), and exclamations (Was für ein Tag!). Each usage demonstrates how this simple word functions as a cornerstone of German communication.
Educational Context: This material is designed for English speakers learning German through the construed reading method, focusing on the high-frequency interrogative pronoun "was" and its various syntactic functions.
Key Takeaways: -
"Was" is invariable - it never changes form -
Used for things and abstract concepts (never for people) -
Appears in questions, relative clauses, and exclamations -
Combined with "für" to mean "what kind of"
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was [vas] - pronounced with a short 'a' as in "father" was für [vas fyːɐ] - "what kind of" etwas [ˈɛtvas] - "something" (compound with was)
Note: The 'w' in German is pronounced like English 'v'
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27.1 Was what ist is das that für for ein a Geräusch noise
27.2 Ich I weiß know nicht not was what sie she will wants
27.3 Was what machst make du you am on-the Wochenende weekend
27.4 Er he fragte asked was what ich I studiere study
27.5 Was what kostet costs dieser this Pullover sweater
27.6 Alles everything was what er he sagt says ist is wahr true
27.7 Was what für for eine a schöne beautiful Überraschung surprise
27.8 Sie she versteht understands nicht not was what hier here passiert happens
27.9 Was what gibt gives es it heute today zum to-the Abendessen dinner
27.10 Das that was what du you sagst say stimmt agrees nicht not
27.11 Was what auch also immer always geschieht happens ich I bleibe stay hier here
27.12 Weißt know du you was what das that bedeutet means
27.13 Was what soll should ich I denn then machen make
27.14 Nichts nothing was what wir we versucht tried haben have hat has funktioniert functioned
27.15 Was what hast have du you gestern yesterday gemacht made
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27.1 Was ist das für ein Geräusch? → "What kind of noise is that?"
27.2 Ich weiß nicht, was sie will → "I don't know what she wants"
27.3 Was machst du am Wochenende? → "What are you doing on the weekend?"
27.4 Er fragte, was ich studiere → "He asked what I'm studying"
27.5 Was kostet dieser Pullover? → "What does this sweater cost?"
27.6 Alles, was er sagt, ist wahr → "Everything he says is true"
27.7 Was für eine schöne Überraschung! → "What a beautiful surprise!"
27.8 Sie versteht nicht, was hier passiert → "She doesn't understand what's happening here"
27.9 Was gibt es heute zum Abendessen? → "What's for dinner today?"
27.10 Das, was du sagst, stimmt nicht → "What you're saying isn't right"
27.11 Was auch immer geschieht, ich bleibe hier → "Whatever happens, I'm staying here"
27.12 Weißt du, was das bedeutet? → "Do you know what that means?"
27.13 Was soll ich denn machen? → "What should I do then?"
27.14 Nichts, was wir versucht haben, hat funktioniert → "Nothing we tried worked"
27.15 Was hast du gestern gemacht? → "What did you do yesterday?"
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27.1 Was ist das für ein Geräusch?
27.2 Ich weiß nicht, was sie will
27.3 Was machst du am Wochenende?
27.4 Er fragte, was ich studiere
27.5 Was kostet dieser Pullover?
27.6 Alles, was er sagt, ist wahr
27.7 Was für eine schöne Überraschung!
27.8 Sie versteht nicht, was hier passiert
27.9 Was gibt es heute zum Abendessen?
27.10 Das, was du sagst, stimmt nicht
27.11 Was auch immer geschieht, ich bleibe hier
27.12 Weißt du, was das bedeutet?
27.13 Was soll ich denn machen?
27.14 Nichts, was wir versucht haben, hat funktioniert
27.15 Was hast du gestern gemacht?
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Grammar Rules for This Passage:
"Was" functions as an interrogative pronoun for things and abstract concepts. Unlike "wer" (who) which has case forms, "was" remains invariable - it never changes regardless of its grammatical function.
Direct Questions: In direct questions, "was" triggers verb-second (V2) word order: -
Was + verb + subject + other elements -
Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
Indirect Questions: In indirect questions, "was" introduces a subordinate clause with verb-final order: -
Main clause + was + subject + ... + verb -
Ich weiß nicht, was er meint (I don't know what he means)
Was für (ein)...: This construction means "what kind of" and the "ein" agrees with the following noun: -
Was für ein Mann? (What kind of man?) - masculine -
Was für eine Frau? (What kind of woman?) - feminine -
Was für Leute? (What kind of people?) - plural, no article
Relative Clauses: "Was" serves as a relative pronoun after: -
alles (everything): alles, was... -
nichts (nothing): nichts, was... -
das (that): das, was... -
etwas (something): etwas, was...
Common Mistakes: -
Using "was" for people (use "wer" instead) -
Forgetting V2 order in direct questions -
Confusing "was für" with just "was" -
Wrong word order in indirect questions
Step-by-Step Question Formation: -
Place "was" at the beginning -
Follow with the conjugated verb -
Add the subject -
Complete with other elements -
For indirect questions, move verb to end
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In German conversation culture, "was" questions are direct and expected. Germans value clarity and precision, so questions beginning with "was" typically seek specific information rather than making small talk. The directness isn't considered rude but efficient.
The expression "Was gibt's?" (What's up?) is less casual than its English equivalent. While common among friends, it's not appropriate for formal situations. In professional contexts, Germans prefer specific questions over general inquiries.
"Was für ein..." constructions often express surprise or admiration in German. "Was für ein Tag!" can be positive or negative depending on intonation, reflecting German's reliance on prosody for emotional content.
Regional variations exist: In southern Germany and Austria, "was" might be pronounced with a longer 'a' sound. In casual speech, "was" often contracts to "wat" in northern dialects or "wos" in Bavarian.
Idiomatic Expressions: -
"Was soll's?" (What the heck/Why not?) -
"Was ist los?" (What's wrong/What's happening?) -
"Na und?" (So what?) -
"Was du nicht sagst!" (You don't say!) -
"Was auch immer" (Whatever)
False Friends: "Was" never means "was" (past tense of "to be"). This common confusion for English speakers requires attention.
Register and Politeness: While "was" itself is neutral, tone and context determine politeness. "Was wollen Sie?" (formal) versus "Was willst du?" (informal) shows the importance of appropriate address forms even in simple questions.
Reminder: Lesson for English speakers learning German
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From Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust" (1808):
Part F-A: Interleaved Text
Was what ist is die the Welt world und and was what ist is das the Leben life ohne without den the-ACC Zauber magic der the-GEN Liebe love Was what bleibt remains dem the-DAT Menschen human wenn when die the Hoffnung hope schwindet dwindles
Part F-B: The Text from F-A Was ist die Welt und was ist das Leben ohne den Zauber der Liebe? Was bleibt dem Menschen, wenn die Hoffnung schwindet? → "What is the world and what is life without the magic of love? What remains for humans when hope fades?"
Part F-C: Original Target Language Text of F-A Only Was ist die Welt und was ist das Leben Ohne den Zauber der Liebe? Was bleibt dem Menschen, Wenn die Hoffnung schwindet?
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary Goethe's rhetorical questions demonstrate "was" in philosophical inquiry. The parallel structure "Was ist...und was ist..." creates rhythm typical of German literary style. The genitive "der Liebe" (of love) shows formal register. The dative "dem Menschen" (to/for the human) appears after "bleiben," a verb taking dative for the person affected. These existential questions using "was" reflect the Romantic period's focus on emotion and meaning, central themes in "Faust."
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
27.16 Was what hat has Sie you-formal dazu there-to gebracht brought Koch cook zu to werden become
27.17 Schon already als as Kind child wusste knew ich I was what ich I werden become wollte wanted
27.18 Was what ist is Ihr your Lieblingsgericht favorite-dish zum to-the Kochen cooking
27.19 Das that kommt comes darauf there-on an on was what Saison season hat has
27.20 Was what für for Zutaten ingredients verwenden use Sie you am on-the liebsten dearest
27.21 Alles everything was what frisch fresh und and regional regional ist is
27.22 Was what würden would Sie you Anfängern beginners-DAT raten advise
27.23 Lernt learn was what die the Grundtechniken basic-techniques sind are
27.24 Was what war was Ihr your größter biggest Fehler mistake in in der the Küche kitchen
27.25 Einmal once habe have ich I vergessen forgotten was what im in-the Ofen oven war was
27.26 Was what bedeutet means gutes good Essen food für for Sie you
27.27 Es it geht goes darum there-about was what Menschen people zusammenbringt together-brings
27.28 Was what planen plan Sie you für for die the Zukunft future
27.29 Ich I möchte would-like zeigen show was what moderne modern deutsche German Küche cuisine kann can
27.30 Was what auch also immer ever kommt comes die the Leidenschaft passion bleibt remains
Part B: Natural Sentences
27.16 Was hat Sie dazu gebracht, Koch zu werden? → "What made you become a chef?"
27.17 Schon als Kind wusste ich, was ich werden wollte → "Even as a child I knew what I wanted to become"
27.18 Was ist Ihr Lieblingsgericht zum Kochen? → "What's your favorite dish to cook?"
27.19 Das kommt darauf an, was Saison hat → "That depends on what's in season"
27.20 Was für Zutaten verwenden Sie am liebsten? → "What kind of ingredients do you prefer to use?"
27.21 Alles, was frisch und regional ist → "Everything that's fresh and regional"
27.22 Was würden Sie Anfängern raten? → "What would you advise beginners?"
27.23 Lernt, was die Grundtechniken sind → "Learn what the basic techniques are"
27.24 Was war Ihr größter Fehler in der Küche? → "What was your biggest mistake in the kitchen?"
27.25 Einmal habe ich vergessen, was im Ofen war → "Once I forgot what was in the oven"
27.26 Was bedeutet gutes Essen für Sie? → "What does good food mean to you?"
27.27 Es geht darum, was Menschen zusammenbringt → "It's about what brings people together"
27.28 Was planen Sie für die Zukunft? → "What are you planning for the future?"
27.29 Ich möchte zeigen, was moderne deutsche Küche kann → "I want to show what modern German cuisine can do"
27.30 Was auch immer kommt, die Leidenschaft bleibt → "Whatever comes, the passion remains"
Part C: Target Language Only
27.16 Was hat Sie dazu gebracht, Koch zu werden?
27.17 Schon als Kind wusste ich, was ich werden wollte
27.18 Was ist Ihr Lieblingsgericht zum Kochen?
27.19 Das kommt darauf an, was Saison hat
27.20 Was für Zutaten verwenden Sie am liebsten?
27.21 Alles, was frisch und regional ist
27.22 Was würden Sie Anfängern raten?
27.23 Lernt, was die Grundtechniken sind
27.24 Was war Ihr größter Fehler in der Küche?
27.25 Einmal habe ich vergessen, was im Ofen war
27.26 Was bedeutet gutes Essen für Sie?
27.27 Es geht darum, was Menschen zusammenbringt
27.28 Was planen Sie für die Zukunft?
27.29 Ich möchte zeigen, was moderne deutsche Küche kann
27.30 Was auch immer kommt, die Leidenschaft bleibt
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This interview format demonstrates "was" in journalistic German. The formal "Sie" throughout reflects professional interview etiquette. Notice how "was" introduces both concrete questions about techniques and abstract ones about philosophy.
The construction "was...dazu gebracht" (what brought you to) uses the past participle with "haben" in perfect tense. This is standard for asking about motivations or causes.
"Das kommt darauf an, was..." (that depends on what...) shows a common pattern where "was" introduces a dependent clause explaining conditions. The verb goes to the end in these subordinate clauses.
The phrase "was auch immer" (whatever) demonstrates "was" in concessive constructions, always followed by verb-second order in the main clause. This adds emphasis and shows acceptance of any possibility.
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The German "w" in "was" is pronounced [v], never [w] as in English. This consistent rule applies to all German words beginning with "w": wer, wie, wo, wann, warum.
In rapid speech, "was" often reduces to [vas] or even [vəs], especially in compounds like "etwas" [ˈɛtvəs] which becomes [ˈɛtvas] or colloquially [ˈɛbəs].
The distinction between "was" (what) and "dass" (that) is crucial. Both can introduce clauses, but "was" is interrogative or relative, while "dass" is a conjunction. Their pronunciation differs: [vas] versus [das].
In questions, rising intonation on "was" signals genuine inquiry, while falling intonation can express surprise or rhetorical questions.
Common Spelling Patterns: -
was + für = was für (what kind of) -
irgend + was = irgendwas (anything) -
et + was = etwas (something)
Stress Patterns: In compound questions, stress falls on "was": WAS machst du? WAS gibt es? This emphasis distinguishes questions from statements.
Audio Reference: The Goethe Institute's A1-level materials provide excellent "was" question practice. Deutsche Welle's "Harry - gefangen in der Zeit" series features natural question patterns with clear pronunciation.
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