The most common way to say “How are you?” in German is Wie geht’s? (How’s it going?), but the question is often used differently in German-speaking countries. This phrase is also very casual and may not be ideal for every situation. Find out the cultural differences here, along with several practical phrases for “How are you?” in German for any setting.
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The cultural impact of asking a German ‘How are you?’
Germans are more reserved when asking someone how they’re doing. While Americans ask “How are you?” in the same casual capacity as saying “hello” in German, this is a much more serious question in German culture. You typically only want to ask a German how they’re doing if you want a detailed answer. Some might even see it as rude if you ask them how they’re doing if you don’t know them well enough, as if it’s too personal a question.
Formal ways you can ask ‘How are you?’ in German
The right way to ask how someone is doing in Germany is as important to good manners as the right way to say “please” and “thank you” in German. And you might want to refresh your sein conjugation skills, since sein means “to be” in German and is essential in this question about one’s health.
Darf ich fragen, wie es Ihnen geht?
Darf ich fragen, wie es Ihnen geht? (May I ask how you’re doing?) is an excellent and culturally appropriate way to ask someone how they are doing in German. Not only does it use Ihnen, which is a formal “you” in German, it also gives the other person an “out” if they’re not comfortable enough with you to discuss how they’re doing just yet.
Wie geht es Ihnen?
As a standard and straightforward way to ask a coworker you’ve known for a while how they’re doing, you can ask them Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you doing?). No fluff here, but it can come across as direct if you only just met someone.
Wie ist Ihr Befinden?
Wie ist Ihr Befinden? literally means “How is your condition?” You would typically use this phrase if you were asking about someone’s physical or mental health when you know they’ve had recent struggles with it. Because of the intimate nature of discussing health, this phrase is most used by doctors or other healthcare professionals.
Wie ist es Ihnen ergangen?
When you’ve been apart from someone like a coworker or associate for a long period of time, you can catch up with them by asking Wie ist es Ihnen ergangen? (How have you been?). This focuses on the time you’ve spent apart, rather than how they might be doing at this present moment.
Wie war Ihr Tag bisher?
Wie war Ihr Tag bisher? is a German question meaning “How has your day been so far?” Unlike the previous question, this one only focuses on today. That makes it ideal if you haven’t been apart for very long or don’t have enough time to catch up on everything you’ve missed since you’ve been away from each other.
Ist bei Ihnen alles im grünen Bereich?
This one is slightly less formal due to the German idiomatic phrase grünen Bereich (green zone), which is used here to mean “going well.” Therefore, Ist bei Ihnen alles im grünen Bereich? means “Is everything going well for you?” You might use this phrase when you want to be formal, but also come across as a little less serious.
Informal ways to ask friends and loved ones ‘How are you?’
While Wie geht’s is ideal for friends and loved ones, there are other informal phrases you can use, too. You can ask a good friend or loved one “How are you doing?” in German with one of the phrases below that don’t feel as impersonal or formal.
Alles beim Alten?
Alles beim Alten? (Everything as usual?) is an informal question you can use with family and friends to find out more about how they’re doing. It also prompts them to talk about any recent changes in their lives, making this a great conversation starter for casual conversation.
Na, wie steht’s?
Stroll up to your group of friends outside a German beer garden and casually ask Na, wie steht’s? (Yo, how’s it goin’?). This is highly casual, so you might not even use it with your family members if they’re more old fashioned.
Was treibst du so?
Show your interest in someone’s activities by asking Was triebst du so? (What have you been up to?). Not only will you learn how a casual acquaintance has been spending their time but also what they’ve been doing.
Wie läuft’s?
Sometimes, simple is just the best way to go, and Wie läuft’s? (How are you?) is the master of this for informal settings. Don’t confuse this with the German verb laufen! The contraction läuft’s, short for läuft es (goes it), makes this an especially colloquial way to ask “how are you” in German.
Schon was Spannendes passiert?
Spice up the conversation and ask about the exciting parts of life with your friends and family by asking Schon was Spannendes passiert? (Has anything exciting happened?). You can find out how they are doing by highlighting the positive aspects of life, which can seem less intrusive than directly asking how someone is.
How to respond when a German asks ‘How are you?’
Imagine someone asks you Wie geht’s or “How are you?” in German. How do you respond? In most cases, when a German asks “How are you?” they actually want a detailed answer. For more casual settings, you can respond with a shorter answer similar to how you’d answer the question in American culture.
Here are a few phrases to use to respond to “How are you?” in German:
- Wie immer. = Same as always
- Läuft. = It’s going.
- Danke, ganz gut. = Thanks, pretty good.
- Alles in Ordnung. = Everything’s fine.
- Kann mich nicht beklagen. = Can’t complain.
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