How to Say ‘What are you drinking?’ in Japanese
何を飲んでいますか？
nani o non de i masu ka
[nahn oh NOHN deh ee mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: 飲んでいます means "am drinking (right now)", and you build it by adding います to the て form of a verb. The same pattern gives 何を食べていますか？ "What are you eating?"
Phrase Breakdown
何を
nani o
what (object)
何 (nani) means 'what', and を marks the object. Say it na-ni-o smoothly.
何を食べますか？
What will you eat?
Words in this phrase
何
nani
[nahn]
what
Question word "what." In polite questions, often appears as 何ですか (what is it?).
趣味は何ですか。
What is your hobby?
を
o
[oh]
object marker
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.
チケットを二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
飲んでいますか？
non de i masu ka
are you drinking?
飲んでいます means 'am drinking', and か makes it a question. Say it non-de i-mas-ka.
お茶を飲んでいますか？
Are you drinking tea?
Words in this phrase
飲ん
non
[NOHN]
drink
Form of 飲む used before the te-ending で.
水を飲んでください。
Please drink water.
で
de
[deh]
(te-form connector)
Part of the te-form; with iru it shows an ongoing state.
ここに住んでいます。
I live here.
い
i
[ee]
to be; ongoing state
Part of ている, which shows an ongoing condition or action.
最近疲れているようです。
It seems you have been tired lately.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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