How to Say ‘How do they differ, then?’ in German
Wie unterscheiden die sich denn?
vee oon-ter-SHY-den dee zich den
[vee oon-ter-SHY-den dee zich den]
💬 Usage Tip: denn in a question doesn't mean "then." It just makes the question sound curious and friendly. Without it, the question can sound blunt.
Phrase Breakdown
Wie unterscheiden
vee oon-ter-SHY-den
How do (they) differ
'Wie' means 'how'. 'Unterscheiden' (to differ, to distinguish) is stressed on 'schei': un-ter-SCHEI-den.
Wie unterscheiden sich die Farben?
How do the colors differ?
Words in this phrase
Wie
[vee]
How
In what manner or way.
Wie schmeckt der Kaffee?
How does the coffee taste?
unterscheiden
[oon-ter-SHY-den]
differ, distinguish
With 'sich', it means to be different from each other.
Die Sorten unterscheiden sich stark.
The varieties differ greatly.
die sich denn?
dee zich den
they ... then?
'Die' means 'they/those', and 'sich' is the reflexive pronoun. 'Denn' is a particle that makes the question sound curious and natural.
Wo sind die denn?
Where are they, then?
Words in this phrase
die
[dee]
they
The subject pronoun for a group of people or things.
Die Kinder sind glücklich.
The children are happy.
sich
[zich]
themselves
Reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject.
Er benimmt sich gut.
He behaves himself well.
denn
[den]
then / actually
A modal particle that makes a question sound more natural, like 'then' or 'actually.'
Was ist denn mit der Heizung los?
So what is wrong with the heating?
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