Was geht
/vas ˈɡeːt/
In German, the English phrase "sup" is translated as Was geht.
Was geht is an informal greeting used to ask someone how they are or what is happening.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Was geht is a literal shortening of Was geht ab, meaning "What goes".
Which one should you use?
While Was geht is a shortened version, you may also use the full form Was geht ab to mean "What's up / What's happening".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Was geht is a highly informal greeting used primarily among younger people or close friends. For other informal greetings, you might use Hallo or Na.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern regions, Servus is an informal way to say hello.
When do people say it?
When someone says Was geht, a common response is Nicht viel, which translates to "Not much".
Did you know?
- The greeting Servus, mentioned as a southern alternative, is actually a Latin word meaning 'slave' or 'servant'.
- In some German youth dialects, Was geht can be used as a rhetorical exclamation of surprise or disbelief rather than a question.
- The phrase Was geht ab is often used in German hip-hop culture, mirroring the influence of African American Vernacular English on global urban slang.
Examples in context
- Moin! Was hast du heute vor?Hey! What do you have planned for today?
- Was geht bei dir?What's up with you?
- Hey, was geht?Hey, what's up?
- Was geht heute so?What's happening today?
Example conversation
Two friends meet casually on the street.
- HannahHey Julian, was geht?Hey Julian, what's up?
- JulianNicht viel, bei dir?Not much, you?
- HannahAlles bestens.Everything is great.
- JulianSchön zu hören!Good to hear!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry was geht.
