German Greetings and Basics

The core German question words all start with W - wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), warum (why), wie (how). Germans call them W-Fragen for exactly that reason, and once you notice the pattern, new question words are easy to recognize.

The Word Order Behind a W-Question

A W-question always follows the same shape: question word, then verb, then everything else. Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) puts wohnst immediately after wo, no matter how long the rest of the sentence gets.

Wo vs. Wohin: A W-Word with Two Jobs

Wo asks about a static location - where something already is. Wohin asks about motion - where something is heading. English collapses both into 'where'; German splits them, which is also exactly why some prepositions change case depending on which one you're really asking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do German question words all start with W?+

It's a genuine pattern, not a coincidence - wer, was, wo, wann, warum, and wie share the same origin, which is why Germans call them collectively W-Fragen (W-questions).

What's the word order for a German question?+

Question word, then verb, then the rest of the sentence - Wo wohnst du? always keeps wohnst directly after wo, regardless of what follows.

What's the difference between wo and wohin?+

Wo asks about a fixed location - where something is. Wohin asks about a destination - where something is going. English uses 'where' for both.

How do I practice these greetings and question words?+

Select the words you want, then use the bar at the bottom to start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test.

German Greetings and Basics

The Word Order Behind a W-Question

Wo vs. Wohin: A W-Word with Two Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Practice Greetings and Basics Vocabulary

Play Greetings and Basics Vocabulary Games

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