Wie ist es so?
The phrase "what is it like?" in German is translated as Wie ist es so?
You use this phrase to ask someone for their general impression or a summary of an experience. It is a common way to inquire about how a specific thing or situation is, such as a new job, a movie or a city.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase Wie ist es so? is informal. The inclusion of the word so makes the expression sound more conversational and is typical for informal settings. Another informal version is Wie ist das so?, which is used to express curiosity about someone's opinion or experience.
Did you know?
- While Wie ist es so? asks for an impression, adding the word so prevents the speaker from sounding accidentally aggressive or demanding in a social setting.
- The word wie is a distant relative of the English 'why' because both come from a root used to ask questions in ancient Proto-Germanic.
- In German, the word so in this phrase belongs to a class of 'modal particles' that change the flavor of a sentence without changing its literal meaning.
Examples in context
- Wie ist es, an der Universität zu studieren?What is it like to study at the university?
- Wie ist es in Deutschland?What is it like in Germany?
- Wie ist das so, einen Roadtrip zu machen?What is it like to go on a roadtrip?
- Wie fühlt es sich an, auf einem Konzert zu sein?What does it feel like to be at a concert?
- Wie ist es so in Berlin?What is it like in Berlin?
Example conversation
Felix asks Julia about her new job.
- FelixHallo Julia! Du hast einen neuen Job. Wie ist es so?Hello Julia! You have a new job. What is it like?
- JuliaEs ist wirklich toll und die Kollegen sind nett.It's really great and the colleagues are nice.
- FelixHast du viel Stress bei der Arbeit?Do you have a lot of stress at work?
- JuliaEin bisschen, aber es macht mir Spaß.A little, but I enjoy it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, so, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
