❓🤔

How to Say ‘What is it about?’ in German

Worum geht es denn?

voh-RUHM gate es den

[voh-RUHM gate es den]

💬 Usage Tip: denn here doesn't mean "because". It softens the question and makes it sound friendly and interested.

Phrase Breakdown

Worum

[voh-RUHM]

what about

Used in questions like "Worum geht es?" meaning "What is it about?"

Example

Worum geht es in dem Buch?

What is the book about?

geht es denn?

gate es den

is it (then)?

'Es geht um...' means 'it is about...'. 'Denn' softens the question and makes it sound friendly. In fast speech 'geht es' often sounds like 'geht's'.

Example

Wie geht es denn?

How is it going, then?

Words in this phrase

geht

[gate]

goes (here: is about)

In 'es geht um' it means 'it is about'.

Example

Es geht um eine Reservierung.

It's about a reservation.

[es]

A neutral pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

Es ist ein schöner Tag.

It is a beautiful day.

denn

[den]

then (filler)

Particle that makes questions sound more natural or show interest.

Example

Wo bist du denn?

Where are you, then?

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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