How to Ask Questions in German
Ask who, what, where and why, form yes/no questions without 'do' and answer negative questions with doch.
German has two question types. W-questions start with a question word; yes/no questions start with the verb.
There is no helper verb like English 'do': Do you speak English? is simply Sprichst du Englisch?
W-questions: question word, then verb
Put the question word first and the conjugated verb second. The subject follows the verb.
Question words
- whower
- whatwas
- wherewo
- where towohin
- where fromwoher
- whenwann
- whywarum
- howwie
More question words
- how muchwie viel
- how manywie viele
- how longwie lange
- how oftenwie oft
- whichwelcher, welche, welches
- what kind ofwas für ein
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
Wann beginnt der Kurs?
When does the course start?
Warum lernst du Deutsch?
Why are you learning German?
Yes/no questions: verb first
Start with the conjugated verb, then the subject. Other verb parts still go to the end.
Sprichst du Englisch?
Do you speak English?
Kannst du mir kurz helfen?
Can you help me for a moment?
Hast du den Film schon gesehen?
Have you seen the film yet?
Answering with ja, nein, doch
Use doch to contradict a negative question or statement. Ja would sound like you agree with the negative.
- Positive question: ja or nein
- Negative question, you disagree: doch
- Negative question, you agree: nein
Hast du keinen Hunger? – Doch, großen Hunger!
Aren't you hungry? – Yes I am, very!
Kommst du nicht mit? – Doch, ich komme mit.
Aren't you coming? – Yes, I am.
Common mistakes
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Wo du wohnst?✓ Wo wohnst du?
The verb comes right after the question word.
✗
Wo kommst du?✓ Woher kommst du?
Asking about origin needs woher.
✗
Hast du keine Zeit? – Ja, ich habe Zeit.✓ Hast du keine Zeit? – Doch, ich habe Zeit.
Contradicting a negative question needs doch.
Questions learners ask
How do you ask a yes/no question in German?
Put the conjugated verb first: Hast du Zeit? German has no helper like English 'do'.
What does doch mean as an answer?
It means 'yes, actually' in reply to a negative question or statement. Ist das nicht teuer? – Doch!