Learning how to say How Are You in German is one of the first steps to starting friendly conversations with native speakers. This common greeting helps you sound polite, approachable, and respectful in both casual and formal settings.
By mastering different variations, you’ll know exactly how to adapt your tone whether speaking to friends, colleagues, or strangers.
How Are You in German
15 Ways to Say How Are You in German
| No. | German Phrase | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wie geht’s? | How are you? (informal) |
| 2 | Wie geht es dir? | How are you? (informal, polite) |
| 3 | Wie geht es Ihnen? | How are you? (formal) |
| 4 | Alles gut? | Everything good? |
| 5 | Wie läuft’s? | How’s it going? |
| 6 | Was geht ab? | What’s up? (very informal) |
| 7 | Na, wie geht’s? | So, how are you? |
| 8 | Wie steht’s? | How’s it going? (casual) |
| 9 | Alles klar? | All good? |
| 10 | Wie ist es? | How is it? |
| 11 | Geht’s dir gut? | Are you doing well? |
| 12 | Ist alles in Ordnung? | Is everything okay? |
| 13 | Wie fühlen Sie sich? | How are you feeling? (formal) |
| 14 | Wie fühlst du dich? | How are you feeling? (informal) |
| 15 | Na, alles fit? | Hey, all good? (slang/casual) |
Here are 15 ways to say How are you in German, complete with real-life dialogue examples and the cultural context behind each one.
1. Wie geht’s?
(How’s it going?)
Origin:
Shortened from Wie geht es dir?, this is the most common casual way to ask someone how they’re doing.
Example:
👤 User A: Hallo! Wie geht’s?
👤 User B: Gut, danke! Und dir?
Use: Informal; perfect for friends or people your age.
2. Wie geht es Ihnen?
(How are you? – formal)
Origin:
This is the formal version of “Wie geht’s,” using Ihnen (formal “you”).
Example:
👤 User A: Guten Tag, Frau Müller. Wie geht es Ihnen?
👤 User B: Danke, sehr gut. Und Ihnen?
Use: Formal; used with strangers, older people, or in business settings.
3. Wie geht’s dir?
(How are you? – casual “you”)
Origin:
This is the full version of the informal form, including the pronoun dir (informal “you”).
Example:
👤 User A: Hey Tim! Wie geht’s dir heute?
👤 User B: Super, danke. Und dir?
Use: Informal; friends, family, kids.
4. Na, wie geht’s?
(Hey, how’s it going?)
Origin:
Adding Na gives the greeting a softer, more familiar feel—something like “Hey” in English.
Example:
👤 User A: Na, wie geht’s?
👤 User B: Ganz gut, danke!
Use: Informal and friendly.
5. Alles klar?
(Everything okay?)
Origin:
Originally used to confirm if everything is in order, this phrase has become a casual way to check in.
Example:
👤 User A: Hi Ben! Alles klar?
👤 User B: Ja, alles bestens!
Use: Informal; common among friends or peers.
6. Wie läuft’s?
(How’s it going? / How’s it running?)
Origin:
A metaphorical way of asking how life is “running” or progressing—common in conversational German.
Example:
👤 User A: Hey! Wie läuft’s bei der Arbeit?
👤 User B: Ganz gut, danke!
Use: Informal; often used to ask about projects, work, or progress.
7. Was geht ab?
(What’s up?)
Origin:
A youth slang version popularized in urban German and among younger speakers.
Example:
👤 User A: Yo, was geht ab?
👤 User B: Nicht viel, alles chillig!
Use: Very informal; teens and youth culture.
8. Wie fühlst du dich?
(How are you feeling?)
Origin:
Used to ask someone about their emotional or physical well-being—more intimate.
Example:
👤 User A: Du wirkst müde. Wie fühlst du dich?
👤 User B: Ich bin ein bisschen erschöpft.
Use: Semi-formal; empathetic tone.
9. Wie geht’s euch?
(How are you all?)
Origin:
Plural version of Wie geht’s dir?—used when addressing more than one person.
Example:
👤 User A: Hallo ihr zwei! Wie geht’s euch?
👤 User B: Uns geht’s gut! Und dir?
Use: Informal, plural; friends, family.
10. Was machst du so?
(What are you up to?)
Origin:
Literally means “What are you doing?” but often used to start a conversation and check in casually.
Example:
👤 User A: Hey! Was machst du so in letzter Zeit?
👤 User B: Arbeiten, wie immer!
Use: Informal; used when catching up.
11. Wie steht’s?
(How’s it going?)
Origin:
A more old-fashioned or region-specific greeting, still used in southern Germany or Austria.
Example:
👤 User A: Servus! Wie steht’s?
👤 User B: Alles gut bei mir!
Use: Informal; regional and a bit old-school.
12. Wie ist die Lage?
(What’s the situation?)
Origin:
A quirky, slightly humorous way to ask “How are things?”
Example:
👤 User A: Moin! Wie ist die Lage?
👤 User B: Ganz entspannt!
Use: Informal; slightly humorous or sarcastic.
13. Was gibt’s Neues?
(What’s new?)
Origin:
Used to check if anything new or interesting has happened—more than just “how are you.”
Example:
👤 User A: Hey! Was gibt’s Neues bei dir?
👤 User B: Ich habe einen neuen Job!
Use: Informal; for friends or when catching up.
14. Bist du okay?
(Are you okay?)
Origin:
Used in more emotional or concerned contexts, especially if someone looks sad or upset.
Example:
👤 User A: Du siehst nachdenklich aus. Bist du okay?
👤 User B: Ja… ich denke nur nach.
Use: Compassionate or concerned tone.
15. Wie war dein Tag?
(How was your day?)
Origin:
More specific than “how are you?”—this asks about someone’s day directly.
Example:
👤 User A: Hallo Schatz! Wie war dein Tag?
👤 User B: Ziemlich stressig, aber jetzt bin ich zuhause.
Use: Casual; often used with family, partners, or close friends.
Conclusion:
knowing how to say How Are You in German helps you connect with people in a polite and natural way. From casual greetings with friends to formal situations with colleagues or strangers, these phrases allow you to show respect and friendliness. Using them correctly will make your conversations flow more smoothly and confidently.
