Let’s talk about how to check in with people
Just pay attention in the office sometime, you will notice how everybody has different ways to simply ask “How are you?”. Obviously, you do have the “How are you?”, but between “Whats up?”, “How’s it going?” or if you see something being wrong the “Whats the matter?”. This is also a huge part of any conversation, for the most part this is what will break the ice or get a conversation going. So, let’s go over some in German and let you learn those as well.
“Wie geht es dir? “
So this is the one everybody knows right? It’s the simple “How are you?”. What is not mentioned is that this is actually the friendly or casual version of the question. “Wie geht es ihnen?” is the formal way of asking the same question, translates to the same thing, but you would use it more when talking to a stranger or an acquaintance you are not on a first name basis with. Then you also have “Wie geht es euch?” which is used to address a group of people as in “How are you all?”
“Wie geht’s?”
This is the direct translation for “How’s it going?”, and gets used in the same manner.
“Was geht ab?”
This is the German version of “What’s up?”. Obviously this could be used in a greeting, and if asking one person, is a question about feelings, but for the most part, you will probably ask this more to find out what’s going on, while in a crowd or other wise.
Of course you will get asked the same questions, so here are some good answers
“Danke, gut!”
This is the “Good, thank you” Not much to say about this but that its the polite and formal answer.
“Ganz gut”
This is the “Pretty well”, or “Pretty good”
“Es geht”
“It’s going”
“Schlimm” or “Schlecht”
“Bad”
“Naja”
“Meh!” though do be careful with this word. It can have multiple meanings and is essentially a filler word for a lot of things.
Oh man, I am going to make you have a full conversation here. If somebody asks you how you are doing, it’s respectful and nowadays pretty natural to ask the same question back.
“Und ‘insert any “How are you”’
Essentially you are simply repeating back their question. “Und wie geht es dir?”
“Und dir/ihnen/euch?”
“And you?” Just remember, the “Dir” is the casual version, “ihnen” is for people not on a first name basis and “euch” is when you are addressing a group of people
So Basically here is a small little exchange (I’ll try and make voice distinguishments here, it’s all for your amusement)
A: Guten Tag!
B: Hallo!
A: Wie geht’s?
B: Ganz gut, und dir?
A: Es geht
