How are you? in German

Learn how to ask and answer the question, "How are you?"

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Lesson Transcript

Jason: Top 25 German Questions You Need to Know

Lesson 16

How are you? In German

In each lesson of this 25-part series, you'll master a common question for German learners,

and then learn how to answer it like a native.

You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component.

Then, through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question,

its answers, and any variations.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question,

How are you? In German this is,

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Jason: The first word in the question is,

Rilana: Wie?

Jason: Meaning, how, in English.

Rilana: Wie?

Jason: Listen again and repeat.

Rilana: Wie?

Jason: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed,

providing the translation,

breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed,

will be repeated throughout the series.

Try to speak aloud as often as possible.

The next word in the question is,

Geht, meaning, it goes.

Rilana: Geht.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Geht.

Jason: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat.

Rilana: Wie geht?

Jason: And next.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: Meaning, it.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: Listen to the first three words of the question and repeat.

Rilana: Wie geht es?

Jason: And next.

Rilana: Dir.

Jason: Meaning, you.

Rilana: Dir.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Dir.

Jason: Listen to the entire question and repeat.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Jason: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.

Master the following pattern in responses to the question.

How are you?

Rilana: Mir geht es gut.

Jason: I'm fine.

Again, slowly.

Repeat the phrase.

Rilana: Mir geht es gut.

Jason: Let's break it down from the beginning.

The first word is,

Rilana: Mir.

Jason: Meaning, me.

Rilana: Mir.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Mir.

Jason: Next is,

Rilana: Geht.

Jason: Meaning, it goes.

Rilana: Geht.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Geht.

Jason: And next.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: Meaning, it.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Es.

Jason: And next.

Rilana: Gut.

Jason: Meaning, good.

Rilana: Gut.

Jason: Now repeat.

Rilana: Gut.

Jason: Listen to the speaker say,

I'm fine.

And then repeat.

Rilana: Mir geht es gut.

Jason: To expand on the pattern,

Replace fine with sick.

Rilana: Schlecht.

Sick.

Rilana: Schlecht.

Jason: Listen to the phrase again,

This time with sick.

Rilana: Mir geht es schlecht.

Jason: It mostly stays the same.

Simply replace fine with sick.

Say, I'm sick.

Rilana: Mir geht es schlecht.

Jason: To make another phrase,

Replace sick with not well.

Rilana: Nicht gut.

Jason: Not well.

Rilana: Nicht gut.

Jason: Listen to the phrase again,

This time with not well.

Rilana: Mir geht es nicht gut.

Jason: It mostly stays the same.

Simply replace sick.

Say, I'm not well.

Rilana: Mir geht es nicht gut.

Jason: To expand on the pattern,

Replace not well with really sick.

Rilana: Wirklich schlecht.

Jason: Really sick.

Rilana: Wirklich schlecht.

Jason: Listen to the phrase again,

This time with really sick.

Rilana: Mir geht es wirklich schlecht.

Jason: It mostly stays the same.

Simply replace not well.

Say, I'm really sick.

Rilana: Mir geht es wirklich schlecht.

Jason: Now it's time for a quiz.

Imagine you are visiting Germany

and someone asks you how you are.

You are fine.

Respond to the question.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Rilana: Mir geht es gut.

Jason: Now imagine you are sick.

Respond to the question.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Rilana: Mir geht es schlecht.

Jason: Imagine you are not well.

Answer the speaker's question.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Rilana: Mir geht es nicht gut.

Jason: Imagine you are really sick.

Respond to the question.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Rilana: Mir geht es wirklich schlecht.

Jason: You want to ask someone how they are doing.

Ask the question.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Jason: Now it's time to answer the question

with actual information about yourself.

Rilana: Wie geht es dir?

Jason: This is the end of lesson 16.

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