German word

was

Pronunciation

IPA/vas/

Meaning

  • pronounwhat

Example

Ich weiß nicht, was er meint.

I don't know what he means.

Illustration for was (what)

More examples

Er sucht was zu essen.

He is looking for something to eat.

Core concept

A blank label for an unidentified thing or fact, either being requested or referred to generally.

Common phrases

  • was anderes

    something else

  • was zu essen

    something to eat

  • was auch immer

    whatever

Similar words

wer: A question word for asking a person's identity or name.
was für: A question phrase for asking what kind or type of thing something is.
welcher: A question word for identifying one item from several options.
etwas: An indefinite term for an unspecified thing that exists.

Definition in German

Wird für die Frage nach „was“ sowie als allgemeiner Platzhalter für unbestimmte Sachen oder Sachverhalte verwendet.

Word origin

German was continues Proto-Germanic *hwat, the same inherited interrogative root as English what.

Usage tips

  • In an indirect question such as "Ich weiß nicht, was er meint", the finite verb goes to the end of the was-clause.

Other meanings

  • somethingpronoun
  • that whichpronoun

Related words

Word lists with this word