Was machst du heute?
The English phrase "what are you doing today?" is translated into German as Was machst du heute?
This phrase is used to ask someone about their plans or activities for the current day.
Which one should you use?
The form Was machst du heute? is used when addressing one person informally. If you are asking a group of friends or people you address informally, use Was macht ihr heute? For formal situations, you can use Was machen Sie heute?, Haben Sie heute etwas vor? or Was steht auf Ihrem Tagesplan? depending on the specific context of the question.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Was machst du heute?, the verb machen is conjugated as machst to agree with the second-person singular pronoun du.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid the construction Was bist du heute machst? While English uses a continuous construction, German uses the simple present tense to express both continuous and habitual actions.
Did you know?
- Using Was machst du heute? with a stranger or a boss would be considered an overly bold or rude intrusion into their privacy.
- Depending on the region, a German speaker might respond to this question by saying they are 'doing nothing' nichts machen even if they have a full day of chores.
- The German word du is a direct relative of the archaic English word 'thou'.
Examples in context
- Guten Morgen! Was machen Sie heute?Good morning! What are you doing today?
- Hey, was machst du heute?Hey, what are you doing today?
- Was steht auf deinem Tagesplan?What's on your agenda for today?
Example conversation
Laura calls Julian on the phone to make plans.
- LauraHallo Julian, was machst du heute?Hello Julian, what are you doing today?
- JulianIch gehe heute ins Kino.I am going to the cinema today.
- LauraKann ich mitkommen?Can I come along?
- JulianJa, das ist eine gute Idee!Yes, that is a good idea!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, heute, was, CC BY-SA 4.0.
