was machst du gerne?
The English phrase "what do you like to do" is translated into German as was machst du gerne?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their hobbies or the activities they enjoy.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase was machst du gerne? literally translates to "what do you do gladly?", as the word gerne is used to express that one likes an activity.
Which one should you use?
While was machst du gerne? focuses on the action of doing something, you might also hear Was sind deine Hobbys?, which is a more direct way to ask for a list of specific hobbies.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb and pronoun changes based on who you are addressing. To ask a question politely or to a stranger, use the formal pronoun Sie and the corresponding verb form machen in Was machen Sie gerne? If you are asking a group of people about their hobbies, use the plural form macht ihr in was macht ihr gerne?
Did you know?
- In Germany, transitioning from the formal Sie to the informal du when asking about personal interests is a social milestone called 'Duzen'. This shift often signals a move from a professional or distant relationship to a genuine friendship.
- The word Hobbys is actually a loanword from English. Despite its origin, it follows German grammar rules and must always be capitalized as a noun.
- While was machst du gerne? is a standard question, Germans often add the filler word so to create the phrase was machst du so? This makes the inquiry feel more casual and spontaneous and less like a formal interview.
Examples in context
- Was machst du gerne in deiner Freizeit?What do you like to do in your free time?
- Ich spiele gerne Fußball.I like to play soccer.
- Sag mal, was machst du gerne?Tell me, what do you like to do?
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are getting to know each other at a party.
- LauraHallo Julian, was machst du gerne?Hello Julian, what do you like to do?
- JulianIch spiele sehr gerne Fußball.I really like playing football.
- LauraDas ist toll! Spielst du im Verein?That's great! Do you play for a club?
- JulianJa, ich spiele seit fünf Jahren dort.Yes, I have been playing there for five years.
