German Relative Clause with WO & WAS

German relative clauses can be tough — but "was" and "wo" are the two relative pronouns that let you skip prepositions, cases and articles. In this lesson you will learn when and how to use "was" and "wo" correctly, which rules apply to each, and how they can make your German both simpler and more natural.

Why Use "Was" and "Wo" in Relative Clauses?

Normal German relative pronouns (der, die, das, den, dem, denen ...) change with gender, number and case, and sometimes come with a preposition. "Was" and "wo" are much easier: they never change. In both cases the conjugated verb goes to the end of the relative clause, and the clause is separated by commas.

Relative Clauses with "Was"

Use "was" (instead of "das") in these situations:

1. After indefinite pronouns: alles, etwas, nichts, vieles

• "Alles, was du sagst, ist richtig." (Everything you say is right.)
• "Es gibt nichts, was ich lieber esse." (There is nothing I would rather eat.)

2. After a neuter superlative or "das Einzige / das Beste"

• "Das Beste, was mir passiert ist, war dieser Kurs."
• "Das Einzige, was ich brauche, ist Ruhe."

3. To refer to a whole clause

When the relative clause comments on the entire previous statement, use "was": "Er hat den Test bestanden, was mich sehr freut." (He passed the test, which makes me very happy.)

Note: in casual speech you'll hear "Das Buch, was ich lese ...", but in correct standard German a specific noun still needs "das": "Das Buch, das ich lese ..."

Relative Clauses with "Wo"

Use "wo" to describe a place — it replaces "preposition + relative pronoun" (like "in der", "in dem"), so you can skip cases and articles completely:

• "Das ist die Stadt, wo ich geboren bin." (instead of: "...die Stadt, in der ich geboren bin.")
• "Berlin, wo ich seit drei Jahren wohne, ist sehr groß."
• "Ich kenne ein Café, wo man gut lernen kann."

"Wo" answers "Where?" — it does not work for direction ("Where to?"). Want to compare it with the classic version with prepositions? See our lesson on relative clauses with prepositions.

Quick Summary

• was → after alles, etwas, nichts, vieles, das Beste, das Einzige, or to refer to a whole clause
• wo → for places, replaces preposition + relative pronoun
• Both never change their form, and the verb goes to the end of the clause

Häufig gestellte Fragen (FAQ)

When do I use "was" as a relative pronoun in German?

Use "was" after alles, etwas, nichts and vieles, after "das Beste" or "das Einzige", and when the relative clause refers to an entire previous statement.

Can I say "das Buch, was ich lese"?

You will hear it in casual speech, but in standard and written German you should say "das Buch, das ich lese". "Was" is reserved for the situations listed above.

What does "wo" replace in a relative clause?

"Wo" replaces "preposition + relative pronoun" when the clause describes a place, such as "in der" or "in dem". "Die Stadt, in der ich wohne" becomes "die Stadt, wo ich wohne".

Does "wo" work for direction, like going to a place?

No. "Wo" only describes where something is or happens. For direction, use the normal relative pronoun with a preposition, for example "das Land, in das ich reisen möchte".

Where does the verb go in relative clauses with "was" and "wo"?

At the end of the relative clause, like in every German relative clause, and the clause is separated with commas.

Relative clauses are just one piece of the B1 puzzle. Our full B1 German video course guides you through every topic in a logical order, so nothing gets left out.