was sagst du?
The English phrase "what are you saying?" is translated into German as was sagst du?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone to repeat or clarify what they have just said. While was sagst du? literally asks what someone is currently saying, it is often used to express disbelief or shock at a statement, similar to the English "What are you talking about?" To inquire specifically about a person's intended meaning, you might instead use the informal phrases Was willst du damit sagen? or Was meinst du damit?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase was sagst du? is composed of was (what), sagst (say/are saying) and du (you, singular informal).
Which one should you use?
If you are addressing a group of two or more people whom you address informally, use was sagt ihr?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Swiss German-speaking regions, Was sagsch? is a colloquial way to ask "What are you saying?"
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people informally, the form changes to was sagt ihr? When addressing someone formally, use was sagen Sie?
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you simply did not hear someone and want them to repeat themselves, Wie bitte? is a more common and polite way to say "What?" than using Was sagst du?
Did you know?
- The verb sagen is used in the idiom etwas auf gut Deutsch sagen, which means to put something in plain or blunt terms regardless of the actual language spoken.
- The word sagen is related to the English word 'saga', as both come from a root meaning to tell or relate a story.
- The English word 'thou' is a direct relative of the German word du, as both stem from the same ancient Proto-Germanic origins.
Examples in context
- Was sagst du? Kannst du das bitte noch einmal erklären?What are you saying? Can you please explain it again?
- Tut mir leid, was sagst du?I'm sorry, what are you saying?
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are talking in a noisy room.
- LauraIch glaube, wir sollten jetzt gehen.I think we should go now.
- FelixWas sagst du? Es ist zu laut hier.What are you saying? It is too loud in here.
- LauraIch sage, dass wir gehen sollten!I'm saying that we should leave!
- FelixAch so, alles klar, Laura.Oh, alright, Laura.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, was, CC BY-SA 4.0.
