A guide to common German phrases for asking “How are you?”, including vocabulary, grammar, and cultural notes on greetings.

One of the first things you learn in any language is how to ask someone how they’re doing. In German, the most common way to ask “How are you?” is Wie geht’s?, but there are many other phrases and nuances depending on the situation and level of formality. This guide will take you through the essential vocabulary, grammar, and cultural tips for asking and responding to “How are you?” in German.

Vocabulary

Here are some of the key words and phrases you’ll need to ask and answer “How are you?” in German:

German Word	English Word	German Example	English Example
Wie	How	Wie geht’s?	How are you?
geht	goes (from “gehen”)	Wie geht es dir?	How goes it to you?
es	it	Wie geht es dir?	How is it to you?
dir	to you (informal)	Wie geht es dir?	How are you (to you)?
Ihnen	to you (formal)	Wie geht es Ihnen?	How are you (formal)?
gut	good	Mir geht es gut.	I’m doing good.
schlecht	bad	Mir geht es schlecht.	I’m doing bad.
so lala	so-so	Mir geht es so lala.	I’m doing so-so.
müde	tired	Ich bin müde.	I am tired.
krank	sick	Ich bin krank.	I am sick.

¿Cómo te ___?

What is the informal German pronoun for 'you' used in 'Wie geht es dir?'?

Ihnen

dir

sie

dir

'Dir' is the dative form of 'du' (informal you) used in 'Wie geht es dir?' to mean 'to you.'

Asking “How Are You?”

The most standard way to ask someone how they are in German is Wie geht es dir? for informal situations and Wie geht es Ihnen? for formal ones. You’ll also see the shortened form Wie geht’s? in casual conversation.

German Pronoun	German Question	English Question	German Example	English Example
du	Wie geht es dir?	How are you?	Wie geht es dir?	How are you?
Sie	Wie geht es Ihnen?	How are you? (formal)	Wie geht es Ihnen?	How are you? (formal)
–	Wie geht’s?	How’s it going?	Wie geht’s?	How’s it going?

Responding to “How Are You?”

When someone asks how you are, you can respond using Mir geht es… (I am doing…), Ich bin… (I am…), or simply by stating your mood or condition.

German Response	English Response	German Example	English Example
Mir geht es gut.	I’m doing well.	Mir geht es gut.	I’m doing well.
Mir geht es schlecht.	I’m doing poorly.	Mir geht es schlecht.	I’m doing poorly.
Mir geht es so lala.	I’m so-so.	Mir geht es so lala.	I’m so-so.
Ich bin müde.	I’m tired.	Ich bin müde.	I’m tired.
Ich bin krank.	I’m sick.	Ich bin krank.	I’m sick.
Danke, gut.	Thanks, good.	Danke, gut.	Thanks, good.
Ganz gut.	Quite good.	Ganz gut.	Quite good.
Es geht.	It’s okay.	Es geht.	It’s okay.
Nicht so gut.	Not so good.	Nicht so gut.	Not so good.
Super!	Great!	Super!	Great!

Cultural Context

In Germany, greetings are often brief and to the point, especially among adults and in professional settings. It’s common to ask Wie geht es Ihnen? when meeting someone for the first time or in formal situations. Among friends and family, Wie geht’s? or Wie geht es dir? is the norm.

Formality Matters: Use dir for friends and people your age, Ihnen for strangers, elders, or anyone in a position of respect.
Don’t Over-Share: It’s customary to keep responses short and polite. If you say “not so good,” you might get a follow-up question, but generally, the conversation moves on quickly.
Body Language Counts: A smile and eye contact go a long way in making greetings feel warm and genuine.

Summary

Wie geht es dir? (informal) and Wie geht es Ihnen? (formal) both mean “How are you?”
Wie geht’s? is a casual, shortened form used among friends.
Respond with Mir geht es…, Ich bin…, or simple adjectives like gut (good) or müde (tired).
Pay attention to formality rules: dir for informal “you,” Ihnen for formal “you.”
German greetings are usually brief; don’t feel pressured to give a detailed update on your life.

Now you’re ready to ask and answer “How are you?” in German with confidence. Viel Erfolg!

Which of the following is NOT true about asking 'How are you?' in German?

'Wie geht es dir?' is informal.

'Wie geht’s?' is used in formal business emails.

'Wie geht es Ihnen?' is formal.

You can respond with 'Mir geht es gut.' or 'Ich bin müde.'

'Wie geht’s?' is used in formal business emails.

'Wie geht’s?' is an informal spoken phrase and is not typically used in formal business emails.

Flashcards (1 of 23)

English Word: How
English Example: How are you?

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Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025

German

Asking "How Are You?" (Wie geht’s?)