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How to Say ‘What are you doing?’ in German

Was machen Sie?

vahs mahk-hen ZEE

[vahs mahk-hen ZEE]

💬 Usage Tip: German has no separate "are doing" form, so Was machen Sie? covers both "what do you do" and "what are you doing". Context, or words like im Moment, makes it clear.

Phrase Breakdown

Was

[vahs]

what

Question word used to ask about things or information.

Example

Was ist denn drin, in dem kleinen Paket?

What is in it, in the small package?

machen

[mahk-hen]

Perform an action.

Example

Ich will es machen.

I want to do it.

Sie

[ZEE]

You (formal)

Formal way to address someone.

Example

Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen?

Are you ready to order?

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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