馃嚛馃嚜 German phrases

How to Say "How are you?" in German

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Wie geht es dir?
"How are you?" in German 路 say it like vee gayt es deer

The most natural way to say "How are you?" in German is Wie geht es dir?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Wie geht's?
A casual and informal way to ask.
Wie geht es Ihnen?
A formal way to ask, used with strangers or in professional settings.

When to use it

Use 'Wie geht es dir?' when speaking to friends or people you know well. 'Wie geht's?' is even more casual and can be used in relaxed conversations. For formal situations, use 'Wie geht es Ihnen?'.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "How are you?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in German

GermanEnglish
Hallo, wie geht es dir?Hello, how are you?
Common mistake
A common mistake is using 'Wie geht es Ihnen?' in casual settings, which can come off as overly formal.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Wie geht es dir?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking German with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use 'Wie geht es dir?' with anyone?

It's best used with friends or peers; for formal situations, use 'Wie geht es Ihnen?'.

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