German Question Words: Who, What, Where — and the Difference Between wenn and wann
Learn to form German W-questions with wer, was, wo, and tell the question word wann apart from the conjunction wenn, with clear patterns and a dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
German information questions start with a question word, called a W-Wort: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when). The verb comes second, and yes/no questions simply move the verb to the front. This lesson gives you reusable patterns for asking about people, things, and places, and it answers a common confusion directly: wann is a question word meaning 'when', while wenn is a conjunction meaning 'if' or 'whenever' and introduces a subordinate clause. You will practise both in short, natural sentences.
By the end, you can…
- ask simple information questions in German using wer, was, and wo.
- choose correctly between wann as a question word and wenn as a conjunction.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wer ist das?
Who is that?
vair ist das
Use wer for people. The verb ist comes directly after the question word.
Was machst du?
What are you doing?
vas makhst doo
Use was for things and actions. The verb machst is in second position.
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
voh vohnst doo
Use wo for location. This is the pattern for asking where someone lives.
Wann kommst du?
When are you coming?
van kohmst doo
Wann is a question word for time. It starts a main question.
Wenn du kommst, essen wir.
If you come, we will eat.
ven doo kohmst, esen veer
Wenn is a conjunction meaning 'if' or 'whenever'. It introduces a subordinate clause and sends the verb to the end.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German W-questions follow a fixed order: question word + verb + subject + rest. For example: Wer ist das? (Who is that?), Was trinkst du? (What are you drinking?), Wo arbeitet sie? (Where does she work?). Yes/no questions do not use a question word; they start with the verb: Ist das dein Bruder? (Is that your brother?), Wohnst du in Berlin? (Do you live in Berlin?). The difference is that a W-question asks for specific information, while a yes/no question expects a yes or no. For time, use wann: Wann beginnt der Film? (When does the film start?). Do not use wenn here. Wenn is a conjunction: Ich rufe dich an, wenn ich ankomme. (I'll call you when I arrive.) In a wenn-clause, the verb goes to the end: wenn ich ankomme, not wenn ich komme an.
When to use it
Use wer for people, was for things or actions, wo for places, and wann for time in direct questions. Use wenn when you want to say 'if' or 'whenever' and link two clauses. Compare: Wann hast du Zeit? (When do you have time?) versus Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich. (If I have time, I'll come.) In the second sentence, wenn introduces a condition, and the verb habe sits at the end of the clause. In spoken German, wann and wenn sound similar, so listen for the verb position: a question has the verb right after wann, while a wenn-clause pushes the verb to the end. Regional note: in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the conjunction wenn is often pronounced with a short vowel, but the standard written distinction between wann and wenn is maintained everywhere.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
Excuse me, where is the train station?ent-shool-dee-goong, voh ist dair bahn-hohfDer Bahnhof ist dort, neben dem Hotel.
The train station is over there, next to the hotel.dair bahn-hohf ist dort, nay-ben daym hoh-telDanke. Wann fährt der nächste Zug?
Thank you. When does the next train leave?dahn-ke. van fairt dair nairkh-ste tsookWenn du dich beeilst, schaffst du den Zug um drei.
If you hurry, you'll catch the three o'clock train.ven doo dikh be-ile-st, shahfst doo dayn tsook oom dryA little context goes a long way
In everyday German, direct questions with wer, was, wo, and wann are normal and not considered rude. Adding Entschuldigung (excuse me) before a question to a stranger is polite. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, you may hear the question word wann pronounced slightly differently, but the standard distinction between wann and wenn is taught in schools and used in writing everywhere.
One thing to watch for
Using wenn to ask a direct question, as in Wenn kommst du?
Try this instead: For direct questions about time, use wann: Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?). Wenn is a conjunction and introduces a subordinate clause, as in Ich freue mich, wenn du kommst. (I'm happy if you come.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Fill in the blank with the correct question word: ___ wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
Show a sample answer
Wo
Wo asks about a place. Wo wohnst du? is the standard pattern. Wer would ask about a person, and was about a thing.
2Choose the correct word: Ich rufe dich an, ___ ich ankomme. (I'll call you when I arrive.)
Show a sample answer
wenn
Wenn is a conjunction meaning 'when' or 'if' here and sends the verb ankomme to the end. Wann would make it a direct question and would not fit this sentence structure.
3Turn this into a W-question: Du trinkst Kaffee. (You are drinking coffee.)
Show a sample answer
Was trinkst du?
Was replaces the object Kaffee, and the verb trinkst stays in second position. Wer trinkst du would be wrong because wer asks about a person, and the verb form would also need to change.
Use wer, was, wo, and wann to ask for specific information; use wenn to mean 'if' or 'whenever' and remember the verb goes to the end of a wenn-clause.
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