How to ask the perfect question in German 🧐

Asking a direct question can sound blunt in German, especially with people you don't know well — which is exactly why indirect questions are used so often in both spoken and written German. This lesson covers how to build a proper indirect question, including the different structures for questions with a question word and yes/no questions, plus the most common introductory phrases you'll want to have ready.

Why Indirect Questions Matter in German

Indirect questions soften a request for information by wrapping it inside a polite introductory phrase rather than asking it head-on: instead of "Wo ist der Bahnhof?" (Where is the train station?), you might say "Können Sie mir sagen, wo der Bahnhof ist?" (Could you tell me where the train station is?). This structure is especially common with strangers, in formal settings, or any time you want to sound more considerate.

Indirect Questions With a Question Word

When the original question uses a question word (wo, wann, warum, wie, and so on), that question word stays in the indirect version, but the verb moves to the end of the clause: Wissen Sie, wann der Bus kommt? — Do you know when the bus is coming? Compare that to the direct question Wann kommt der Bus?, where the verb comes right after the question word.

Indirect Yes/No Questions With "Ob"

When the original question has no question word — a plain yes/no question — the indirect version uses ob ("whether/if") to introduce it, again sending the verb to the end: Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. — I don't know whether he's coming. Compare that to the direct question Kommt er? (Is he coming?), which has no question word at all.

Common Phrases for Starting an Indirect Question

A handful of introductory phrases cover most everyday situations: Wissen Sie, ...? (Do you know...?), Können Sie mir sagen, ...? (Could you tell me...?), Ich frage mich, ... (I wonder...), and Es wäre nett zu wissen, ... (It would be nice to know...). Memorizing a few of these gives you a ready-made, polite way to ask almost anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an indirect question in German?

An indirect question is a more polite way of asking for information, built by wrapping the question inside an introductory phrase like "Können Sie mir sagen, ...?" (Could you tell me...?) rather than asking directly.

What happens to the verb in an indirect question with a question word?

The verb moves to the end of the clause, e.g. "Wissen Sie, wann der Bus kommt?" instead of the direct "Wann kommt der Bus?"

How do you form an indirect yes/no question in German?

You introduce it with "ob" (whether/if) and send the verb to the end of the clause, e.g. "Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt."

When should you use an indirect question instead of a direct one?

Indirect questions are especially common with people you don't know well or in formal situations, since they soften the request for information and sound more polite.

What are some common phrases for starting an indirect question?

Useful starters include "Wissen Sie, ...?", "Können Sie mir sagen, ...?", and "Ich frage mich, ...", all of which work as polite introductions to an indirect question.

Polite, natural-sounding structures like these get plenty of speaking practice in our A2 German course.