What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Wie geht's? is a contraction of Wie geht es?, which literally translates to 'How goes it?'
Which one should you use?
Wie geht's? is a much more casual and common way to ask 'How's it going?' or 'How are you?' in daily spoken German compared to the full, grammatically complete Wie geht es Ihnen?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In northern Germany, you might hear the casual greeting Moin meaning 'Hi', while in Bavaria, the informal greeting Servus is used to mean 'Hi'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Wie geht's? is a contraction of Wie geht es dir? when addressing one person informally.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you Wie geht's? in an informal setting, a common way to respond is Gut, danke. Und dir? (Good, thanks. And you?). If you are in a formal setting and someone asks Wie geht es Ihnen?, you should respond with Gut, danke. Und Ihnen? to maintain the formal register.
Did you know?
- In many German social circles, asking Wie geht's? is seen as a genuine question rather than a polite formality, and may prompt a detailed answer about one's health.
- If you travel to Bavaria, you can use the word Servus to say 'Hi' to friends. Although it sounds very friendly, the word is actually a Latin term meaning 'servant'.
- The greeting Hallo has a maritime origin, as it was originally used to hail a ferryman on the opposite bank of a river.
Examples in context
- Mir geht es gut, danke.I'm fine, thank you
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia meet at a cafe.
- LukasHallo, wie geht's?Hello, how are you?
- JuliaMir geht es gut, danke. Und dir?I'm doing well, thanks. And you?
- LukasAuch gut, danke der Nachfrage.Also good, thanks for asking.
- JuliaDas freut mich sehr, Lukas.I am very glad to hear that, Lukas.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hallo, hallo, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
