When you ask ‘How are you?’ in German, it’s more than just a hello. Unlike in the U.S., where it might be a casual greeting, in German-speaking places, people expect a real answer about how you’re doing.
If you talk with someone in Germany, they’ll think you truly want to know about their life. So, it’s good to remember this when you chat in German. It shows you understand their way of doing things and helps you connect better, whether at work or just hanging out.
20 Meaningful Ways to Ask “How Are You?” in German
When discussing ways to ask ‘How are you?’ in German, it’s important to consider whether you’re being formal, casual, or creative.
| Number | Asking “How are you?” in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Wie geht es Ihnen? | How are you? (formal) |
| 2 | Wie geht es dir? | How are you? (informal) |
| 3 | Wie läuft’s? | How’s it going? |
| 4 | Alles in Ordnung bei dir? | Is everything alright with you? |
| 5 | Wie steht’s? | How are things? |
| 6 | Was gibt’s Neues? | What’s new? |
| 7 | Wie fühlst du dich heute? | How do you feel today? |
| 8 | Geht es dir gut? | Are you doing well? |
| 9 | Wie war dein Tag? | How was your day? |
| 10 | Bist du in Ordnung? | Are you okay? |
| 11 | Wie hat dein Tag begonnen? | How did your day start? |
| 12 | Kannst du deinen Tag in einem Wort beschreiben? | Can you describe your day in one word? |
| 13 | Was macht dich heute glücklich? | What makes you happy today? |
| 14 | Fühlst du dich heute besser? | Are you feeling better today? |
| 15 | Gibt es etwas Neues bei dir? | Is there anything new with you? |
| 16 | Wie ist deine Woche bis jetzt? | How has your week been so far? |
| 17 | Freust du dich auf das Wochenende? | Are you looking forward to the weekend? |
| 18 | Gibt es etwas, das dich derzeit beschäftigt? | Is there anything on your mind lately? |
| 19 | Wie kommst du heute damit zurecht? | How are you coping with it today? |
| 20 | Hast du Pläne für den Rest des Tages? | Do you have plans for the rest of the day? |
Formal Queries
When speaking formally in German, you should ask how someone is doing by saying ‘Wie geht es Ihnen?’ This phrase uses ‘Ihnen,’ which is the formal way to say ‘you,’ and it’s used with colleagues, bosses, or someone you don’t know well. It shows respect and professionalism in Germany.
| Number | Formal Query in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Wie geht es Ihnen? | How are you? |
| 2 | Können Sie mir bitte helfen? | Can you please help me? |
| 3 | Dürfte ich Sie etwas fragen? | May I ask you a question? |
| 4 | Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Could you please repeat that? |
| 5 | Was empfehlen Sie? | What do you recommend? |
| 6 | Würden Sie mir freundlicherweise Ihre Meinung mitteilen? | Would you kindly share your opinion? |
| 7 | Darf ich Sie um einen Gefallen bitten? | May I ask you for a favor? |
| 8 | Können wir einen Termin vereinbaren? | Can we schedule a meeting? |
| 9 | Ist es Ihnen möglich, mir weitere Informationen zu diesem Thema zu geben? | Is it possible for you to provide me with more information on this topic? |
| 10 | Wie stehen Sie dazu? | What is your position on this? |
Casual Inquiries
Asking someone ‘Wie geht es dir?’ is a common, friendly way to check in with friends and family in German-speaking areas. It means ‘How are you?’ in English. People use it when they’re close and comfortable with each other.
It’s open-ended, so it can lead to a quick update or a longer chat about what’s going on in their lives.
| Number | Casual Inquiry in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Wie geht’s dir? | How are you? |
| 2 | Was machst du später? | What are you doing later? |
| 3 | Hast du Lust, heute Abend etwas zu unternehmen? | Do you want to do something tonight? |
| 4 | Kannst du mir kurz helfen? | Can you help me out for a sec? |
| 5 | Was hast du am Wochenende gemacht? | What did you do over the weekend? |
| 6 | Hast du Lust auf Kaffee? | Fancy a coffee? |
| 7 | Wie war dein Tag? | How was your day? |
| 8 | Wo willst du essen gehen? | Where do you want to eat? |
| 9 | Hast du Pläne für die Ferien? | Do you have any plans for the holidays? |
| 10 | Wie kommst du mit deinem Projekt voran? | How is your project coming along? |
Responding to “How Are You?” in German
When someone asks ‘How are you?’ in German, the answer depends on how well you know them. If you’re close, you might share your real feelings, whether you’re happy or having a tough time.
| Number | Answering “How are you?” in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Mir geht es gut, danke. | I am good, thank you. |
| 2 | Es geht mir nicht so gut. | I am not doing so well. |
| 3 | Alles bestens, danke. | Everything is great, thank you. |
| 4 | Heute ist nicht mein Tag. | Today is not my day. |
| 5 | Ich fühle mich großartig! | I feel great! |
| 6 | Es könnte besser sein. | It could be better. |
| 7 | Ich bin ein bisschen müde. | I am a bit tired. |
| 8 | Mir geht es ausgezeichnet! | I am doing excellent! |
| 9 | Ich bin etwas gestresst. | I am a bit stressed. |
| 10 | Ganz normal, danke. | Just normal, thank you. |
| 11 | Mein Tag begann fantastisch! | My day started fantastically! |
| 12 | Hektisch. | Hectic. |
| 13 | Freunde zu treffen macht mich glücklich. | Meeting friends makes me happy. |
| 14 | Ja, viel besser, danke! | Yes, much better, thank you! |
| 15 | Nichts Neues, alles beim Alten. | Nothing new, same old. |
| 16 | Ziemlich beschäftigt, aber gut. | Quite busy, but good. |
| 17 | Absolut, ich kann es kaum erwarten! | Absolutely, I can’t wait! |
| 18 | Ja, ich habe viel zu tun. | Yes, I have a lot on my mind. |
| 19 | Es ist schwierig, aber ich schaffe es. | It’s tough, but I’m managing. |
| 20 | Ja, ich habe ein paar Dinge zu erledigen. | Yes, I have some things to do. |
Expressions of Positive Feelings
When someone asks ‘How are you?’ in German, a common reply is ‘Mir geht es gut, danke!’ which means ‘I’m doing well, thank you!’ Here are some other ways you can answer positively:
| Number | Expression in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Ich bin glücklich. | I am happy. |
| 2 | Mir geht es großartig! | I am doing great! |
| 3 | Ich fühle mich wunderbar. | I feel wonderful. |
| 4 | Das macht mich sehr froh. | That makes me very glad. |
| 5 | Ich bin begeistert! | I am thrilled! |
| 6 | Das freut mich sehr. | I am very pleased. |
| 7 | Ich bin stolz darauf. | I am proud of that. |
| 8 | Ich bin voller Freude. | I am full of joy. |
| 9 | Es geht mir ausgezeichnet. | I am excellent. |
| 10 | Ich bin überglücklich. | I am overjoyed. |
| 11 | Ich genieße das wirklich. | I really enjoy this. |
| 12 | Ich fühle mich belebt. | I feel invigorated. |
| 13 | Ich bin dankbar für… | I am thankful for… |
| 14 | Das ist erhebend. | That is uplifting. |
| 15 | Ich bin zuversichtlich. | I am confident. |
| 16 | Das stimmt mich optimistisch. | That makes me optimistic. |
| 17 | Ich bin voller Hoffnung. | I am full of hope. |
| 18 | Ich schätze das sehr. | I appreciate that very much. |
| 19 | Das macht Spaß! | This is fun! |
| 20 | Es ist eine Freude. | It’s a pleasure. |
Expressions of Negative Feelings
When someone asks you ‘How are you?’ in German and you’re not feeling great, it’s best to be straightforward yet considerate. Here’s how you can express that you’re not doing well:
| Number | Expression in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Ich bin traurig. | I am sad. |
| 2 | Ich fühle mich schlecht. | I feel bad. |
| 3 | Das macht mich unglücklich. | That makes me unhappy. |
| 4 | Ich bin enttäuscht. | I am disappointed. |
| 5 | Das frustriert mich. | That frustrates me. |
| 6 | Ich fühle mich überfordert. | I feel overwhelmed. |
| 7 | Ich bin besorgt. | I am worried. |
| 8 | Das ärgert mich. | That annoys me. |
| 9 | Ich bin verärgert. | I am upset. |
| 10 | Ich bin gestresst. | I am stressed. |
Using these phrases can help you communicate openly and respectfully about your feelings.
Neutral Responses
When someone asks ‘Wie geht es Ihnen?’ and you want to keep your answer neutral, here are a few ways to reply:
| Number | Neutral Response in German | English Translation |
| 1 | Es ist okay. | It’s okay. |
| 2 | Es geht. | It’s fine. |
| 3 | Nichts Besonderes. | Nothing special. |
| 4 | Es ist mittelmäßig. | It’s mediocre. |
| 5 | Kann nicht klagen. | Can’t complain. |
| 6 | So lala. | So-so. |
| 7 | Nicht schlecht, nicht gut. | Not bad, not good. |
| 8 | Es ist normal. | It’s normal. |
| 9 | Alles beim Alten. | Everything as usual. |
| 10 | Es ist ausreichend. | It’s sufficient. |
These answers help you stay polite in conversation while keeping things private.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, learning different ways to ask and answer ‘How are you?’ in German helps improve your conversations. When you adjust how you say these phrases for formal or casual situations and try out new questions, you connect better with German speakers. These skills are excellent for understanding the culture and making your talks more meaningful. They help you understand and share feelings better, which is suitable for personal and professional life.
