What does it mean word for word?
The German phrase uses the present perfect tense hast gesagt to express the English past tense "did say", meaning "what have you said?"
Which one should you use?
In German, you have a more polite and common way to ask someone to repeat themselves: Wie bitte?, which means "Pardon?" In contrast, asking Was hast du gesagt? can sound blunt or even aggressive depending on your tone. Additionally, using just the single word Was? is a very abrupt and potentially rude way to ask someone to repeat themselves, similar to saying "What?" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of verb conjugation depends on the level of formality: use Was hast du gesagt? for informal singular addresses and Was haben Sie gesagt? when addressing someone formally.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying just Was? to ask someone to repeat themselves, as it is very abrupt and can be perceived as rude.
Did you know?
- While the phrase Was hast du gesagt? is grammatically perfect, it can actually sound like an accusation. In many social contexts, it sounds less like 'I didn't hear you' and more like 'How dare you say that!'
- The German word du is a close relative of the old-fashioned English word 'thou'. Both words stem from the same ancient Proto-Germanic root þū.
- While standard high German views the abrupt use of Was? as rude, speakers in Bavaria or Austria often use it with a rising intonation to ask for repetition.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigung, was hast du gesagt?Sorry, what did you say?
Example conversation
A noisy cafe where Laura is talking to Julian.
- JulianIch möchte morgen ins Kino gehen.I want to go to the cinema tomorrow.
- LauraWas hast du gesagt? Es ist zu laut.What did you say? It is too loud.
- JulianIch sagte, ich möchte ins Kino gehen.I said I want to go to the cinema.
- LauraOh, okay, das klingt gut.Oh, okay, that sounds good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, was, CC BY-SA 4.0.
