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How to Say ‘How are you?’ in German

Wie geht's dir?

VEE gayts deer

[VEE gayts deer]

💬 Usage Tip: dir is the informal "you" here. With someone you call Sie, say Wie geht es Ihnen? instead.

🇩🇪 In Germany: Unlike English "How are you?", Germans may answer honestly and in detail. Only ask it if you're ready to listen.

Phrase Breakdown

Wie

[VEE]

how

In what way or manner.

Example

Wie geht es dir?

How are you?

geht's

[gayts]

is it going

Short for 'geht es'; used in asking how someone is doing.

Example

Wie geht's Ihnen heute?

How are you today?

dir

[deer]

to you

Dative pronoun meaning 'to you' in informal singular form.

Example

Ich sende dir später die Adresse.

I will send you the address later.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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