Wie groß bist du?
In German, 'how tall are you?' is expressed as Wie groß bist du?
This phrase is used to ask someone about their height.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Wie groß bist du? translates to 'How big are you?', as the adjective groß means both 'big' or 'large' as well as 'tall'.
Which one should you use?
The form Wie groß bist du? is the informal version, while Wie groß sind Sie? is the formal way to ask the same question.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You should use Wie groß sind Sie? when speaking to strangers, superiors or in formal settings to maintain politeness. If you are speaking to friends, family or children, use the informal Wie groß bist du?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Germany and Austria, people might use the phrase Wie groß bist'n du?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using hoch (high) to ask about a person's height. Instead, use groß as it is the correct adjective for human stature.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Guten Tag! Wie groß sind Sie?Good day! How tall are you?
- Hey, wie groß bist du?Hey, how tall are you?
- Sag mal, wie groß bist du?Tell me, how tall are you?
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are comparing their heights.
- HannahDu bist echt riesig! Wie groß bist du?You are really huge! How tall are you?
- MaximilianIch bin eins Meter neunzig.I am one meter ninety.
- HannahWow, das ist wirklich sehr groß.Wow, that is really very tall.
- MaximilianUnd wie groß bist du, Hannah?And how tall are you, Hannah?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bist, du, groß, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
