German word

wie

Pronunciation

IPA/viː/

Meaning

  • adverbhow

Example

Wie geht es dir?

How are you?

Illustration for wie (how)

More examples

Wie lange dauert der Kurs?

How long does the course run?

Core concept

A hand points to a method on one side and a mark on a scale on the other, covering both 'which way' and 'how far.'

Common phrases

  • Wie lange?

    how long?

  • Wie oft?

    how often?

Similar words

wie viel: Asks about the amount or degree of something.
warum: Asks about the reason or cause of an event.
wo: Asks about a place or location.
wann: Asks about a time or period.

Definition in German

Dient als Fragewort für die Art oder das Ausmaß einer Handlung oder eines Zustands und kann in direkten Fragen sowie Ausrufen stehen.

Word origin

The form developed from Old High German wī through Middle High German wie, with related Germanic forms behind English how.

Usage tips

  • In Wie schön! and similar exclamations, wie means 'how' before an adjective, not the English question word 'what.'

Other meanings

  • asconjunction

Word lists with this word