Asking about the weather using 'was'
The English statement How is the weather today? is translated to Wie ist das Wetter heute?. We can ask the same question using what in English by What is the weather like today?
How can we say the same thing using was in German? I mean using literal translation.
Is Was ist das Wetter so wie heute? correct? I think so, because ... sein so wie A means ... is like A sounds probable.
expressions grammar-identification
add a comment |
The English statement How is the weather today? is translated to Wie ist das Wetter heute?. We can ask the same question using what in English by What is the weather like today?
How can we say the same thing using was in German? I mean using literal translation.
Is Was ist das Wetter so wie heute? correct? I think so, because ... sein so wie A means ... is like A sounds probable.
expressions grammar-identification
1
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday
add a comment |
The English statement How is the weather today? is translated to Wie ist das Wetter heute?. We can ask the same question using what in English by What is the weather like today?
How can we say the same thing using was in German? I mean using literal translation.
Is Was ist das Wetter so wie heute? correct? I think so, because ... sein so wie A means ... is like A sounds probable.
expressions grammar-identification
The English statement How is the weather today? is translated to Wie ist das Wetter heute?. We can ask the same question using what in English by What is the weather like today?
How can we say the same thing using was in German? I mean using literal translation.
Is Was ist das Wetter so wie heute? correct? I think so, because ... sein so wie A means ... is like A sounds probable.
expressions grammar-identification
expressions grammar-identification
edited 19 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
15611
15611
asked yesterday
Chan KimChan Kim
1,021316
1,021316
1
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday
add a comment |
1
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday
1
1
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?
Was für ein Wetter haben wir heute?
literally: "What kind of weather do we have today?"
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
add a comment |
If you translate entirely literally, what you get isn't German. It's English with phonological substitutions applied to it. But that isn't what distinguishes languages from each other.
In this particular case, English happens to have alternate ways of expressing "wie". One is how, and another is what ... like. There is no corresponding alternation in German, so cannot find an appropriate translation using "was".
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
add a comment |
Another possibility to ask about the weather using was:
A: Was bringt das Wetter heute?
B: Morgens Schnee, dann Regen.
This is different from the other answers because the weather remains the subject of the sentence.
In the other answers, the subject changes to Wetterbericht, wir etc.
add a comment |
Here is the link of the answer already given:
https://woerterbuch.reverso.net/deutsch-englisch/was%20haben%20wir%20heute%20f%C3%BCr%20ein%20Wetter
But don't confuse or mix it up with the inversion (what is a kind of interjection):
"Was haben wir heute für ein Wetter!" which means "Was ist das (wieder) für ein Wetter, das wir heute haben!!!".
Maybe in English you would add: "Isn't it? It is!"
New contributor
add a comment |
I don't really recognize the motivation of the question; but one example is:
Was hat der Wetterbericht für heute gemeldet?
(What did the wheather report announce for today?)
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
add a comment |
There is another, probably more colloquial, variation of was für, where ein is dropped, and instead of haben wir we simply use ist. The word order is quite flexible:
Was für Wetter ist heute?
Was ist heute für Wetter?
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
add a comment |
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?
Was für ein Wetter haben wir heute?
literally: "What kind of weather do we have today?"
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
add a comment |
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?
Was für ein Wetter haben wir heute?
literally: "What kind of weather do we have today?"
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
add a comment |
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?
Was für ein Wetter haben wir heute?
literally: "What kind of weather do we have today?"
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?
Was für ein Wetter haben wir heute?
literally: "What kind of weather do we have today?"
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
JankaJanka
28.8k22557
28.8k22557
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
add a comment |
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
2
2
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
Ah, danke schön nochmal. I have to get used to that expression "Was für", a peculiar German expression.
– Chan Kim
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
You can even say (colloquially), when looking out of the window: "Was sagt denn das Wetter?"
– tofro
yesterday
1
1
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
Oooh, gute Antwort! Ich hatte ganz übersehen, dass es tatsächlich eine fast vergleichbare Konstruktion gibt.
– Kilian Foth
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
I think there is missing a "do": "What kind of wheather do we have today?"
– rexkogitans
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
You are right. .
– Janka
yesterday
add a comment |
If you translate entirely literally, what you get isn't German. It's English with phonological substitutions applied to it. But that isn't what distinguishes languages from each other.
In this particular case, English happens to have alternate ways of expressing "wie". One is how, and another is what ... like. There is no corresponding alternation in German, so cannot find an appropriate translation using "was".
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
add a comment |
If you translate entirely literally, what you get isn't German. It's English with phonological substitutions applied to it. But that isn't what distinguishes languages from each other.
In this particular case, English happens to have alternate ways of expressing "wie". One is how, and another is what ... like. There is no corresponding alternation in German, so cannot find an appropriate translation using "was".
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
add a comment |
If you translate entirely literally, what you get isn't German. It's English with phonological substitutions applied to it. But that isn't what distinguishes languages from each other.
In this particular case, English happens to have alternate ways of expressing "wie". One is how, and another is what ... like. There is no corresponding alternation in German, so cannot find an appropriate translation using "was".
If you translate entirely literally, what you get isn't German. It's English with phonological substitutions applied to it. But that isn't what distinguishes languages from each other.
In this particular case, English happens to have alternate ways of expressing "wie". One is how, and another is what ... like. There is no corresponding alternation in German, so cannot find an appropriate translation using "was".
answered yesterday
Kilian FothKilian Foth
9,0181525
9,0181525
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
add a comment |
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
1
1
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
The other answer gives a good translation using was
– PiedPiper
yesterday
add a comment |
Another possibility to ask about the weather using was:
A: Was bringt das Wetter heute?
B: Morgens Schnee, dann Regen.
This is different from the other answers because the weather remains the subject of the sentence.
In the other answers, the subject changes to Wetterbericht, wir etc.
add a comment |
Another possibility to ask about the weather using was:
A: Was bringt das Wetter heute?
B: Morgens Schnee, dann Regen.
This is different from the other answers because the weather remains the subject of the sentence.
In the other answers, the subject changes to Wetterbericht, wir etc.
add a comment |
Another possibility to ask about the weather using was:
A: Was bringt das Wetter heute?
B: Morgens Schnee, dann Regen.
This is different from the other answers because the weather remains the subject of the sentence.
In the other answers, the subject changes to Wetterbericht, wir etc.
Another possibility to ask about the weather using was:
A: Was bringt das Wetter heute?
B: Morgens Schnee, dann Regen.
This is different from the other answers because the weather remains the subject of the sentence.
In the other answers, the subject changes to Wetterbericht, wir etc.
answered yesterday
PhilippPhilipp
2,2782831
2,2782831
add a comment |
add a comment |
Here is the link of the answer already given:
https://woerterbuch.reverso.net/deutsch-englisch/was%20haben%20wir%20heute%20f%C3%BCr%20ein%20Wetter
But don't confuse or mix it up with the inversion (what is a kind of interjection):
"Was haben wir heute für ein Wetter!" which means "Was ist das (wieder) für ein Wetter, das wir heute haben!!!".
Maybe in English you would add: "Isn't it? It is!"
New contributor
add a comment |
Here is the link of the answer already given:
https://woerterbuch.reverso.net/deutsch-englisch/was%20haben%20wir%20heute%20f%C3%BCr%20ein%20Wetter
But don't confuse or mix it up with the inversion (what is a kind of interjection):
"Was haben wir heute für ein Wetter!" which means "Was ist das (wieder) für ein Wetter, das wir heute haben!!!".
Maybe in English you would add: "Isn't it? It is!"
New contributor
add a comment |
Here is the link of the answer already given:
https://woerterbuch.reverso.net/deutsch-englisch/was%20haben%20wir%20heute%20f%C3%BCr%20ein%20Wetter
But don't confuse or mix it up with the inversion (what is a kind of interjection):
"Was haben wir heute für ein Wetter!" which means "Was ist das (wieder) für ein Wetter, das wir heute haben!!!".
Maybe in English you would add: "Isn't it? It is!"
New contributor
Here is the link of the answer already given:
https://woerterbuch.reverso.net/deutsch-englisch/was%20haben%20wir%20heute%20f%C3%BCr%20ein%20Wetter
But don't confuse or mix it up with the inversion (what is a kind of interjection):
"Was haben wir heute für ein Wetter!" which means "Was ist das (wieder) für ein Wetter, das wir heute haben!!!".
Maybe in English you would add: "Isn't it? It is!"
New contributor
edited 20 hours ago
SomeWindowsUser
1,1861419
1,1861419
New contributor
answered yesterday
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
314
314
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
I don't really recognize the motivation of the question; but one example is:
Was hat der Wetterbericht für heute gemeldet?
(What did the wheather report announce for today?)
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
add a comment |
I don't really recognize the motivation of the question; but one example is:
Was hat der Wetterbericht für heute gemeldet?
(What did the wheather report announce for today?)
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
add a comment |
I don't really recognize the motivation of the question; but one example is:
Was hat der Wetterbericht für heute gemeldet?
(What did the wheather report announce for today?)
I don't really recognize the motivation of the question; but one example is:
Was hat der Wetterbericht für heute gemeldet?
(What did the wheather report announce for today?)
edited 19 hours ago
answered yesterday
guidotguidot
12.1k1544
12.1k1544
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
add a comment |
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
(annunce → announce.)
– Peter Mortensen
22 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
@Petermortensen Thank you, fixed
– guidot
19 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
Hi, I justed wanted to know if there is the exact 1 to 1 expression for "What's the weather like today?" using "A is like B" as in English.
– Chan Kim
17 hours ago
add a comment |
There is another, probably more colloquial, variation of was für, where ein is dropped, and instead of haben wir we simply use ist. The word order is quite flexible:
Was für Wetter ist heute?
Was ist heute für Wetter?
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
add a comment |
There is another, probably more colloquial, variation of was für, where ein is dropped, and instead of haben wir we simply use ist. The word order is quite flexible:
Was für Wetter ist heute?
Was ist heute für Wetter?
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
add a comment |
There is another, probably more colloquial, variation of was für, where ein is dropped, and instead of haben wir we simply use ist. The word order is quite flexible:
Was für Wetter ist heute?
Was ist heute für Wetter?
There is another, probably more colloquial, variation of was für, where ein is dropped, and instead of haben wir we simply use ist. The word order is quite flexible:
Was für Wetter ist heute?
Was ist heute für Wetter?
answered yesterday
mkrieger1mkrieger1
1495
1495
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
add a comment |
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
1
1
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
I never heard this construction before. Could it be regional?
– infinitezero
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
@infinitezero Possibly it's more common in the southern part of Germany?
– mkrieger1
yesterday
add a comment |
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1
to translate 'What is the weather like today?' literally you'd have to say "So wie was ist das wetter heute?" but that doesn't make any sense in german.
– ths
yesterday
Related: slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/08/…
– Carsten S
yesterday