wer
who · whom
Wer is the German question word for 'who'. It asks about a person or people, and changes form depending on case: wer (nominative), wen (accusative), wem (dative).
What wer means
- who — asking about the subject of a sentence
- whom — asking about the direct object (wen) or indirect object (wem)
Heard in real German videos
Lines where wer was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Du weißt nicht, wer ich bin.You don't know who I am.
- Wer ist der Chirurg hier?Who's the surgeon here?
- Oh, aber wen sollen wir denn dann fangen?Oh, but who are we supposed to catch then?
Example sentences
- Wer ist das?Who is that?
- Wen hast du gesehen?Whom did you see?
- Wem gehört dieses Buch?Whom does this book belong to?
- Wessen Jacke ist das?Whose jacket is that?
Grammar
| Nominative | wer |
|---|---|
| Accusative | wen |
| Dative | wem |
| Genitive | wessen |
Use wer for the subject, wen for the direct object, and wem for the indirect object. Wessen means 'whose'.
Common phrases
- Wer weiß?Who knows?
- Wer auch immerwhoever
- Wer ist dran?Whose turn is it?
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often use 'wer' for all cases, forgetting to change to 'wen' or 'wem'. Remember: subject = wer, direct object = wen, indirect object = wem.
Don’t confuse it with
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between wer, wen, and wem?
Wer is nominative (subject), wen is accusative (direct object), and wem is dative (indirect object).
How do you say 'whose' in German?
The genitive form of wer is wessen, meaning 'whose'.
Can wer be used as a relative pronoun?
Yes, wer can introduce a relative clause meaning 'whoever' or 'the person who', e.g., 'Wer das sagt, hat recht.'