Wie geht's? is the safest way to ask how you are in German and the informal way to say how are you is Wie geht es dir?, and it is vague enough about formality that you can ask almost anyone. Use Wie geht es Ihnen? for formal situations that clearly call for formal Sie.
Ways to say it
Hallo Anna, wie geht es dir?
Hi Anna, how are you?
Guten Tag, wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day, how are you?
Na, wie geht's?
Hey, how's it going?
Alles klar bei dir?
Everything good with you?
Hey, wie läuft's bei der Arbeit?
Hey, how's it going at work?
Why Wie geht's? Works on Almost Anyone?
Wie geht es dir? uses the informal dir, which only works with people you'd already address as du. Wie geht's? drops the pronoun entirely, which is exactly what makes it safe - there's nothing left to get wrong.
Alles klar? Isn't Really a Health Check?
Alles klar? technically means 'everything clear?', but as a greeting it works more like the English 'what's up?' - a quick check-in, not a real request for a status report. Answering with a genuine list of problems would be as odd in German as it would be in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ways are there to ask 'How Are You' in German?+
5 common ways, each suited to a different level of formality - see the table above for exactly when to use each one.
What's the difference between the formal and informal options?+
Wie geht es dir? and Wie geht's? work with friends, family, and people your own age. Wie geht es Ihnen? is for strangers, older people, or professional settings - German draws that line more strictly than English does.
Is Alles klar? actually asking how I am?+
Not really - it functions more like 'what's up?' than a genuine question about your wellbeing. A short, casual reply is expected, not a real update.
How do I practice these five phrases?+
Select the phrases you want, then use the bar at the bottom to start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test.
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Practice tips
- ✓Tap play to hear each phrase before you try saying it yourself.
- ✓Notice which options are formal and which are informal before you use them.
- ✓Practice the example sentence, not just the phrase on its own — that's how it's actually used.