In German
Wie
Meaning: how
Formal or informal? “Wie” asks about the manner, state or degree of something. For a formal “how are you”, use “Wie geht es Ihnen?”.
Example sentences
Wiegehtesdir?
How are you?
Wiealtbistdu?
How old are you?
WiekommstduzurArbeit?
How do you get to work?
Grammar note
“Wie” is a question word, so the verb comes second: “Wie alt bist du?”. The question “Wie geht es dir?” is informal; “dir” changes to “Ihnen” in formal speech.
Common mistake
Don't use “was” for “how”. “Was” means what, and “Was machst du?” asks what you're doing, not how you are.
Quick check
Which German question word means “how”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between “wie” and “was”?
“Wie” asks how something is, while “was” asks what it is.
How do you ask how old someone is?
“Wie alt bist du?” (informal) or “Wie alt sind Sie?” (formal).