Wie viel kostet das?
The German phrase for "how much is it?" is Wie viel kostet das?
This phrase is used to ask for the price of an item. You can also say Wie viel kostet es? to mean "How much does it cost?", or use the alternative Was kostet das? which means "What does that cost?" You might say Was verlangen Sie? to mean "What do you charge?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Wie viel (how much), kostet (costs) and das (that/it).
Which one should you use?
While Wie viel kostet das? is a complete sentence, you can also use the alternative Was kostet das? to mean "What does that cost?" For a clipped and informal approach, you can simply say Wie viel? (How much?).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In a colloquial setting, especially when settling a bill or by shopkeepers, you might hear Was macht das? which means "What does that make?" You can use Entschuldigen Sie, könnten Sie mir bitte den Preis sagen? (Excuse me, could you please tell me the price?) or Würden Sie mir bitte verraten, wie viel das kostet? (Could you please let me know how much that costs?).
Did you know?
- The verb kosten is used for prices, but in a different context it can also mean 'to taste' food or drink.
- When asking for a price in a formal German setting, it is common to start the request with Entschuldigen Sie, even if the shopkeeper is already looking at you.
- The word viel shares a common ancestor with the English word 'full', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'many' or 'abundance'.
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are looking at fruit in a market.
- JulianWie viel kostet das?How much does that cost?
- HannahDas kostet zwei Euro.That costs two euros.
- JulianIst das sehr teuer?Is that very expensive?
- HannahNein, der Preis ist gut.No, the price is good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries das, kostet, viel, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
