wie
how · like, as · what? pardon?
Wie is the basic German word for 'how' and 'like' (in comparisons). It asks about manner, degree, or state, and it links things that are similar. Learners often miss that it also appears in fixed expressions like 'wie bitte?' (pardon?) and 'wie geht's?' (how are you?).
What wie means
- how — asking about manner, way, or degree
- like, as — making comparisons
- what? pardon? — used alone to ask someone to repeat
Heard in real German videos
Lines where wie was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- So wie im Abfalleimer?Like in the trash can?
- Das sieht wie Essen aus.That looks like food.
- Es sieht wirklich genau wie drüben aus.It really looks exactly like over there.
Example sentences
- Wie geht es dir?How are you?
- Er ist so groß wie ich.He is as tall as I am.
- Wie spät ist es?What time is it?
- Wie bitte?Pardon?
Common phrases
- wie bitte?pardon? excuse me?
- wie geht's?how are you?
- so gut wieas good as, practically
- wie vielhow much, how many
- wie langehow long
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'wie' and 'als' in comparisons. Use 'wie' for equality (so...wie) and 'als' after a comparative (größer als).
Don’t confuse it with
- als — Use 'als' after a comparative (e.g., größer als), while 'wie' is used for equality (so groß wie).
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'wie' and 'als'?
'Wie' is used for comparisons of equality (so...wie), while 'als' is used after a comparative adjective (e.g., größer als).
How do you say 'how are you?' in German?
The most common way is 'Wie geht es dir?' or informally 'Wie geht's?'.
What does 'wie bitte?' mean?
It means 'pardon?' or 'excuse me?' and is used when you didn't hear or understand something.