German for Intermediate Learners: Asking Clarifying Questions with 'Was meinst du mit ...?'
Learn to ask 'What do you mean by ...?' and similar clarifying questions in German to check meaning and avoid misunderstandings.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you don't fully understand what someone means, asking a clarifying question is essential. In German, the phrase 'Was meinst du mit ...?' (What do you mean by ...?) is a direct and common way to ask for clarification. This lesson teaches you how to form such questions, use them politely, and respond when someone asks you for clarification. You'll practice with examples and a dialogue, and learn to avoid common mistakes. By the end, you'll be able to keep a conversation going by asking for the specific meaning of a word, phrase, or idea.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you mean by ...?' using 'Was meinst du mit ...?' and similar phrases.
- ask for clarification in a polite and appropriate way in German.
- respond when someone asks me to clarify what I meant.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Was meinst du mit ...?
What do you mean by ...?
vahs MYN-st doo mit ...
Use with friends, family, or peers (informal 'du'). Fill in the blank with a noun or phrase, e.g., 'Was meinst du mit 'spät'?'
Was meinen Sie mit ...?
What do you mean by ...? (formal)
vahs MYN-en zee mit ...
Use with strangers, older people, or in professional settings (formal 'Sie').
Wie meinst du das?
How do you mean that? / What do you mean by that?
vee MYN-st doo dahs
A general request for clarification when you didn't understand the overall meaning, not just a specific word.
Kannst du das genauer erklären?
Can you explain that more precisely?
KAHN-st doo dahs guh-NOW-er air-KLAY-ren
Ask for more detail when the explanation was too vague. Use 'Können Sie' for formal.
Ich verstehe nicht ganz, was du meinst.
I don't quite understand what you mean.
ikh fair-SHTAY-uh nikht gahnts vahs doo MYN-st
A polite way to admit you don't understand, inviting the other person to clarify.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Was meinst du mit + [Dativ]?' The preposition 'mit' always takes the dative case. For example: 'Was meinst du mit dem Wort?' (What do you mean by the word?) Here 'dem Wort' is dative. If you're asking about a whole statement, use 'Wie meinst du das?' instead. For formal situations, replace 'du' with 'Sie' and adjust the verb: 'Was meinen Sie mit ...?' Note that 'meinen' means 'to mean' in the sense of 'to think' or 'to intend', not 'to signify' (which is 'bedeuten'). So 'Was bedeutet das?' asks what something signifies, while 'Was meinst du damit?' asks what someone intends by it.
When to use it
Use these questions when you need to understand a specific word, phrase, or idea that someone said. For example, if a colleague says 'Das ist nicht praktikabel', you might ask 'Was meinst du mit 'praktikabel'?' to get a definition or example. Use 'Wie meinst du das?' when the whole statement is unclear, e.g., after someone says 'Das war nicht so toll' and you're not sure if they mean it was bad or just okay. In formal contexts, always use 'Sie': 'Was meinen Sie mit 'praktikabel'?' Also, 'Kannst du das genauer erklären?' is useful when you want more details, not just a definition.
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-SHEE-benWas meinst du mit 'verschieben'? Auf nächste Woche oder auf unbestimmte Zeit?
What do you mean by 'postpone'? To next week or indefinitely?vahs MYN-st doo mit fair-SHEE-ben? owf NAYS-tuh VOKH-uh OH-der owf un-be-SHTIM-tuh tsytAuf nächste Woche. Wir brauchen mehr Zeit für die Vorbereitung.
To next week. We need more time for preparation.owf NAYS-tuh VOKH-uh. veer BROW-khen mair tsyt fewr dee for-be-RAY-toongAlles klar, dann verschieben wir es um eine Woche.
All right, then we'll postpone it by one week.AH-les klahr, dahn fair-SHEE-ben veer es oom Y-nuh VOKH-uhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, directness is often valued, but politeness still matters. Using 'Was meinst du mit ...?' is neutral and can be used in most informal situations. In formal contexts, always use 'Sie' to show respect. If you're unsure, it's better to ask for clarification than to pretend you understood. Germans generally appreciate when someone asks for clarification rather than making a mistake. However, avoid asking too many clarifying questions in a row without offering your own interpretation; it can seem like you're not listening.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Was bedeutet du mit ...?' instead of 'Was meinst du mit ...?'
Try this instead: 'Bedeuten' means 'to signify' and is used with 'das': 'Was bedeutet das?' (What does that mean?). For asking what a person means, use 'meinen': 'Was meinst du mit ...?' For example, 'Was meinst du mit 'spät'?' is correct, while 'Was bedeutet du mit 'spät'?' is wrong.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask a friend 'What do you mean by 'bald'?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Was meinst du mit 'bald'?
This uses the informal 'du' and the correct preposition 'mit' with the dative. 'Bald' is the word being questioned. Alternatively, you could say 'Wie meinst du das mit 'bald'?' but the first is more direct.
2How would you politely ask your boss 'What do you mean by 'priorities'?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Was meinen Sie mit 'Prioritäten'?
Use the formal 'Sie' form 'meinen Sie' to show respect. The word 'Prioritäten' is in the dative plural, but the form is identical to the nominative plural, so no change is needed.
3What is the difference between 'Was meinst du mit ...?' and 'Was bedeutet ...?'?
Show a sample answer
'Was meinst du mit ...?' asks what a person means by a word or statement, while 'Was bedeutet ...?' asks what a word or expression signifies.
This distinction is important: 'meinen' relates to intention or opinion, 'bedeuten' to meaning or definition. For example, 'Was meinst du mit 'frei'?' asks what you intend by 'free', while 'Was bedeutet 'frei'?' asks for a definition.
To ask 'What do you mean by ...?' in German, use 'Was meinst du mit ...?' informally or 'Was meinen Sie mit ...?' formally. Remember that 'meinen' is for personal meaning, while 'bedeuten' is for definitions. Practice these phrases to keep conversations clear and respectful.
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