Was machst du?
In German, the English abbreviation 'wyd' (what are you doing) can be expressed using Was machst du?
These phrases are used to ask someone about their current activity.
Which one should you use?
Was machst du? is a way to ask what someone is doing. Was treibst du so? is a way to ask what someone is up to, while Was hast du vor? focuses on asking what someone has planned. For more formal contexts, Was machen Sie gerade? asks what someone is doing at the moment and Wie verbringen Sie Ihre Zeit gerade? asks how someone is spending their time right now.
Did you know?
- In German, the choice between du and Sie is a social minefield. Using du with a stranger or a superior can be seen as a significant breach of etiquette or an intentional insult.
- The word treiben in the phrase Was treibst du so? literally means 'to drive' or 'to push', such as driving cattle or driving a nail. In a social context, it implies a certain level of energetic or even mischievous activity.
- In very informal digital slang, Germans might use the abbreviation wmd instead of the full sentence, which stands for was machst du.
Examples in context
- Hey, was machst du? Ich habe gerade ein neues Buch angefangen.Hey, what are you doing? I just started reading a new book.
- Entschuldigen Sie die Störung, aber was machen Sie gerade? Wir müssen noch einige Details für das Projekt besprechen.Excuse the interruption, but what are you doing at the moment? We still need to discuss some details for the project.
- Sag mal, was machst du?Tell me, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Hannah texts Lukas to see if he is busy.
- HannahHey Lukas, was machst du?Hey Lukas, what are you doing?
- LukasIch schaue gerade einen Film.I am watching a movie right now.
- HannahHast du Lust auf Pizza?Do you feel like having pizza?
- LukasJa, das klingt super!Yes, that sounds great!
