“Was ist los?”
What's wrong? / What's going on?
Daily LifeInformalA1
Literal Translation
Word for word: “What is loose?”
Pronunciation
/vas ɪst loːs/
When to Use This Phrase
Germans often add 'denn' ('Was ist denn los?'), which makes the question sound more natural and concerned. The flip side, 'Hier ist nichts los', means nothing is happening — the place is dead.
Example Sentences
Du siehst traurig aus. Was ist los?
You look sad. What's wrong?
Was ist denn hier los?
What's going on here?
Word Breakdown
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