How to say How Have You Been in German

One of the most common sentences we use is “How have you been/How are you?” Not a day goes by without us asking this question. It’s courteous. It’s the norm. That’s what we do.

If you’re learning German, you’ve undoubtedly wondered how to express yourself in the language. There are two ways you can pose this question, just like in English. Some are a little out there, some are informal, and some are official. I’ll walk you through these, explain how to use them best, and provide some useful advice in this post. You’ll soon be enquiring about people’s well-being in German with the assurance of a fluent speaker.

Click here to join the Entri online German language course! Watch demo classes here!

How to say How have you been in German?

How have you been – Wie ist es dir ergangen

How are you – Wie geht es Ihnen

Formal Alternatives to say How have you been/How are you? in German

Wie geht es Ihnen? is a query you might pose in a formal context. Recall your bank, job, or school. This is the appropriate sentence to use when you don’t know someone well.

Example:

Guten Morgen, Frau Smith. Wie geht es Ihnen heute? (Good morning, Mrs. Smith. How are you today?)

Informal ways to say how are you in German

Wie geht es dir?

This is the informal version of Wie geht es Ihnen? When you ask someone how they are in German, it’s customary to enquire about their well-being in conversation with friends, colleagues, or relatives.

The pronoun du is used in informal contexts, and its Dative form is dir. The Dative form of Sie, Ihnen, was utilised in the preceding example and is reserved for formal contexts.

Example:

• Hallo, Elias! Wie geht es dir? (Hello, Elias! How are you?)

How to Respond to How have you been in German

You must now know how to respond to the question as well as how to ask it. If you just gaze at someone and they ask Und du? (And you? ), you can find yourself in an unpleasant situation.

Mir geht es gut – I’m good

Be cautious! Say “Ich bin gut” instead. It is a precise translation of “I’m good,” yet it means something completely different from “Mir geht es gut.” Ich bin gut does not imply that you’re feeling well; rather, it suggests that you’re good (at something). Many English speakers make this common error, therefore it’s crucial that you steer clear of it. Say Mir geht es bien at all times.

Gut./Schlecht.

You can be brief and use the adjective alone, expressing oneself without having to use the full sentence. When you’re feeling good, go with your gut; when you’re not feeling well, use schlecht.

Nicht schlecht.

This one indicates not too awful. It can serve as a more unbiased response.

Es geht./Geht so.

You can choose one of these if things aren’t going well for you but they could be worse. They are a little more ambiguous in their meaning.

Practicing German Greetings Tips and Exercises

Join a Language Exchange Program

Participants in language exchange programs have the chance to get better at speaking German. Learners can converse about subjects of mutual interest, exchange viewpoints, and compare vocabulary, linguistic constructions, or cultural customs between their different cultures by establishing a connection with fluent German speakers.

With the help of language exchange websites and programs, learners can acquire German in a genuine and organic environment while also getting a personal understanding of the subtle differences between the languages they speak. Participating in a language exchange program promotes friendships and cross-cultural understanding in addition to language development.

Listen to Podcasts in German

Podcasts in the German language are an additional helpful tool for students trying to get better at speaking the language. Podcasts with native German speakers as hosts offer a wealth of real information and engaging audio experiences. They offer insights into German colloquialisms, customs and traditions, and current events, in contrast to straightforward internet activities.

Listening to podcasts in the German language can help learners improve their vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening comprehension. Try to repeat the host’s words as you listen to the podcast. To understand and pronounce some words correctly, you might need to pause and/or rewind the audio recording. German language podcasts provide an entertaining and practical way to practise speaking and listening in German while on the go. They feature lively hosts and a broad range of themes.

Participate in Online Language Communities

Through online language communities, language learners have access to interactive platforms that allow them to communicate with native German speakers worldwide. These communities provide chat rooms and forums where students can engage, pose queries, and get assistance from knowledgeable members. Many of these communities can be found on social media sites such as Reddit, Quora, Facebook, and Twitter.

German Language Webinars

For German language learners looking to get better at the language, webinars are a great resource. These interactive webinars, which are frequently led by seasoned language teachers or fluent German speakers, cover a range of topics related to learning German. While less individualised than German classes, webinars offer excellent overall guidance and information.

Youtube Videos

Language learners find that watching German-speaking YouTube videos is a popular and useful approach. Numerous video channels are available that concentrate on teaching German vocabulary, grammar, accents, and other topics. Teachers and native speakers typically host these channels.

Choose the right video by browsing those that concentrate on vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and conversational skills. A practical and easily available tool for self-paced learning is YouTube. For optimal learning, you can rewind and replay videos on YouTube as much as you’d like.

Entri App: German Language Course

Entri, India’s Best Learning App, now provides online German language lessons in cooperation with Lanstitut, a leading German training institute. The online courses are intended to help you communicate like one of the 100 million native German speakers. Our knowledgeable instructors and strong technological assistance make sure you pick up the language skills you need for travel abroad. Students will have a strong foundation in German at the end of the course, allowing them to communicate effectively in a variety of settings and gain understanding of German-speaking cultures.

Click here to join the Entri online German language course! Watch demo classes here!