馃嚛馃嚜 German phrases

How to Say "What's up?" in German

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Was ist los?
"What's up?" in German 路 say it like vahs ist lohs

The most natural way to say "What's up?" in German is Was ist los?. 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 very common and friendly way to ask someone how they are
Alles klar?
used to check if everything is okay, often in informal contexts

When to use it

You can use this phrase when greeting friends or acquaintances. It is informal and suitable for casual conversations. It can also be used to check in on someone you haven't seen in a while.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What's up?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in German

GermanEnglish
Hey, was ist los?Hey, what's up?
Common mistake
Learners often use overly formal phrases instead of casual ones in informal settings.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Was ist los?, 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

Is 'Was ist los?' appropriate in formal situations?

No, it's best used in casual contexts; for formal situations, use 'Wie geht es Ihnen?'.

Learn German by speaking it

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