wat / wien
What and Who: Wat and Wien
Start the question with wat (what) or wien (who), then put the verb, then the subject: Wat méchs du? (What are you doing?)
How It Works
Word order. The question word comes first and the conjugated verb second, as in every statement (the verb comes second). The subject follows the verb:
- Wat méchs du? – What are you doing?
- Wien ass dat? – Who is that?
Wien as the subject takes a singular verb: Wie kënnt mat? (Who is coming along?) Before k, wien is written wie.
Wien as the object keeps the same form, unlike German wen: Wie sichs du? (Who are you looking for?) Here too the n-rule turns wien into wie before s.
The n-rule. Wien loses its n before most consonants (n-rule): Wie kenns du hei? It keeps the n before a vowel and before d, h, n, t and z: Wien ass dat? Wien hëlleft mir?
Useful questions with wat
- Wat kascht dat? – How much is that? (literally: What does that cost?)
- Wat ass lass? – What is going on?
To ask to whom, use the dative wiem. To ask what kind of, use wat fir en. For place questions, see wou and wuer.
Examples (6)
- Wat méchs du?
What are you doing?
Word by Word: What do you?
The verb méchs comes right after wat.
- Wien ass dat?
Who is that?
Word by Word: Who is that?
Wien keeps its n because ass starts with a vowel.
- Wat kascht dat?
How much is that?
Word by Word: What costs that?
Luxembourgish often asks about a price with wat.
- Wie kënnt mat?
Who is coming along?
Word by Word: Who comes along?
Wien as the subject takes the singular verb kënnt. Before the consonant k it is written wie, by the n-rule.
- Wie kenns du hei?
Who do you know here?
Word by Word: Whom know you here?
Wien becomes wie before the consonant k, by the n-rule.
- Wat ass lass?
What is going on?
Word by Word: What is loose?
A common everyday question.
Common Mistakes
Keeping statement order after the question word.
Wat du méchs?Wat méchs du?The verb must come second, right after the question word.
Using the German question word wer.
Wer ass dat?Wien ass dat?The Luxembourgish word for who is wien.
Using a plural verb with wien.
Wie komme mat?Wie kënnt mat?Wien as the subject takes a singular verb, even if you expect several people. Before k or m, wien is written wie.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before What and Who: Wat and Wien, learn Yes or No Questions.
Related Patterns
- wou / wuerWhere and Where to: Wou and Wuer
Question words for where and where to.
Level 1 - wéiniWhen: Wéini
The question word for when.
Level 1 - wat fir enWhat Kind of: Wat Fir En
Asks what kind of or which.
Level 2 - Preposition + wiemWith Whom? Preposition + Wiem
The dative form wiem for to whom and with whom.
Level 3 - The N-Rule (Eifeler Regel)
Explains why wien is sometimes written wie.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice wat / wien in Bubblegum
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