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How to Say ‘What did you eat?’ in German

Was haben Sie gegessen?

vas hah-ben zee geh-GESS-en

[vas hah-ben zee geh-GESS-en]

💬 Usage Tip: For the past, haben comes early and the action word goes to the very end: gegessen "eaten". Same shape: Was haben Sie getrunken? "What did you drink?"

Phrase Breakdown

Was haben Sie

vas hah-ben zee

What have you

'Was' sounds like 'vahs', because German 'w' is pronounced like English 'v'. This is a formal question start.

Example

Was haben Sie gekauft?

What have you bought?

Words in this phrase

Was

[vas]

what

Question word asking about a thing.

Example

Was machst du?

What are you doing?

haben

[hah-ben]

have

To possess or hold something.

Example

Ich habe ein Buch.

I have a book.

Sie

[zee]

you

The formal 'you' used in polite professional conversations.

Example

Ich freue mich, Sie hier auf der Jobmesse zu sehen.

I am pleased to see you here at the job fair.

gegessen?

geh-GESS-en

eaten?

This is the past participle of 'essen'. Say 'ge-GES-sen' and stress the middle syllable.

Example

Ich habe schon gegessen.

I have already eaten.

Words in this phrase

gegessen

[geh-GESS-en]

eaten

Past participle of 'essen', to eat.

Example

Ich habe schon gegessen.

I have already eaten.

Guides for German learners

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