German for Clarifying Meaning: Asking 'What Do You Mean by That?'
Learn to ask what someone means in German when a statement is unclear, using phrases like 'Wie meinst du das?' and 'Was bedeutet das?' to focus on meaning, not opinions.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When you're learning German, you'll often hear a sentence you don't fully understand. Instead of guessing, you can ask the speaker to clarify what they mean. This lesson teaches you elementary-level phrases to ask 'What do you mean by that?' and similar questions. These are different from asking for opinions (like 'What do you think?') because they focus on the meaning of a statement. You'll learn to use 'meinen' (to mean) and 'bedeuten' (to mean/signify) correctly, and you'll practice with a short dialogue. By the end, you'll be able to ask for clarification politely and naturally in everyday German conversations.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to clarify what they mean in German.
- use 'Wie meinst du das?' and 'Was bedeutet das?' appropriately.
- distinguish between asking for meaning and asking for an opinion.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wie meinst du das?
What do you mean by that? (informal singular)
vee mynst doo dahs
Use with friends, family, or people you address with 'du'. It asks for clarification of a previous statement.
Wie meinen Sie das?
What do you mean by that? (formal)
vee my-nen zee dahs
Use with strangers, older people, or in professional settings where you use 'Sie'.
Was bedeutet das?
What does that mean?
vahs buh-doy-tet dahs
Asks for the meaning of a word, phrase, or situation. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Kannst du das genauer erklären?
Can you explain that more precisely? (informal)
kahnst doo dahs guh-now-er air-klay-ren
A polite way to ask for more detail when something is vague. Use 'Können Sie' for formal.
Was willst du damit sagen?
What are you trying to say with that? (informal)
vahs vilst doo dah-mit zah-gen
Used when you suspect there is a hidden meaning or implication. Can sound slightly confrontational, so use with care.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The verb 'meinen' means 'to mean' in the sense of intending or having in mind. To ask 'What do you mean by that?', use 'Wie meinst du das?' (informal) or 'Wie meinen Sie das?' (formal). The verb 'bedeuten' also means 'to mean', but it refers to the meaning of words or symbols: 'Was bedeutet das?' (What does that mean?). Compare: 'Wie meinst du das?' asks about the speaker's intention, while 'Was bedeutet das?' asks about the meaning of something. For example, if someone says 'Das ist nicht so einfach', you might ask 'Wie meinst du das?' to find out what they intend to say.
When to use it
Use these phrases when a statement is unclear and you want to understand the speaker's meaning. They are not for asking opinions. To ask for an opinion, you would say 'Was denkst du?' (What do you think?) or 'Wie findest du das?' (How do you find that?). For example, if a friend says 'Ich bin dagegen', you can ask 'Wie meinst du das?' to learn why they are against it. If you are in a formal situation, use 'Wie meinen Sie das?'. If you want to ask about the meaning of a specific word, use 'Was bedeutet das?' or 'Was bedeutet dieses Wort?'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich finde, wir sollten das Projekt verschieben.
I think we should postpone the project.ikh fin-duh veer zol-ten dahs pro-yekt fair-zhee-benWie meinst du das genau?
What exactly do you mean by that?vee mynst doo dahs guh-nowIch meine, wir haben nicht genug Zeit, um es diese Woche fertigzustellen.
I mean, we don't have enough time to finish it this week.ikh my-nuh veer hah-ben nikht guh-nook tsyt oom es dee-zuh vo-khuh fair-tikh-tsu-shtel-lenAch so, jetzt verstehe ich. Danke für die Erklärung.
Oh, I see, now I understand. Thanks for the explanation.ahkh zoh yetst fair-shtay-uh ikh dahn-kuh fewr dee air-klay-roongA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, directness is often valued, but asking 'Wie meinst du das?' can sometimes sound like a challenge if your tone is harsh. To keep it polite, use a friendly intonation and consider adding 'genau' (exactly) or 'nochmal' (again). In formal contexts, always use 'Sie' with 'Wie meinen Sie das?'. In Austria and parts of Switzerland, 'meinen' is used similarly, but you might hear 'Wie moanst du des?' in Bavarian or Austrian dialects. Standard German is understood everywhere.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Was meinst du?' to ask 'What do you mean?'
Try this instead: 'Was meinst du?' actually means 'What do you think?' and asks for an opinion. To ask for meaning, say 'Wie meinst du das?' or 'Was bedeutet das?'. For example, if someone says 'Das ist kompliziert', asking 'Was meinst du?' would ask for their opinion on it, not what they mean by 'kompliziert'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask a friend (informal) to clarify what they mean?
Show a sample answer
Wie meinst du das?
This is the standard informal way to ask 'What do you mean by that?'. You could also say 'Was meinst du damit?' but 'Wie meinst du das?' is more common for clarification.
2What is the formal version of 'Wie meinst du das?'
Show a sample answer
Wie meinen Sie das?
Use 'Sie' instead of 'du' and conjugate the verb accordingly: 'meinen' becomes 'meinen' for 'Sie'. This is polite and appropriate for strangers or professional settings.
3Which phrase would you use to ask for the meaning of a word?
Show a sample answer
Was bedeutet das?
'Was bedeutet das?' asks for the meaning of something, like a word or symbol. It is different from asking what a person means, which uses 'meinen'.
To ask what someone means in German, use 'Wie meinst du das?' (informal) or 'Wie meinen Sie das?' (formal). For the meaning of words, use 'Was bedeutet das?'. Remember: these ask about meaning, not opinions.
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