Meaning
A question used to ask about a problem or an unusual situation.
Primary Function
Expressing concern or asking about a problem
Communicative Purpose
Asking about someone's state or a situation
Pattern
Was ist los?
Core Structure
Was ist los?
Função primária
Expressing concern or asking about a problem
Propósito comunicativo
Asking about someone's state or a situation
Situações de gatilho
When someone looks upset, an unexpected event occurs, or a problem needs to be clarified
Contextos
Everyday conversations, emergency situations, informal chats
Padrão
Was ist los?
Estrutura central
Was ist los?
Slots de substituição
No variable slots — the phrase is fixed.
Colocados típicos
- etwas
- irgendwas
- nichts
Substituições comuns
- Was ist passiert? (for events)
- Was stimmt nicht? (for problems)
Erros comuns
Incorrect word order (e.g., „Ist was los?“), mispronunciation of „los“ (as „loss“)
Similar / contraste
Wie geht's?, Was ist passiert?, Was stimmt nicht?, Was ist das Problem?
Interferências
L1 speakers may overuse this phrase in formal contexts where more specific questions are expected
Família do chunk
- Was ist passiert?
- Was ist hier los?
- Was geht ab?
- Wie geht's?
Nuance
Kann Besorgnis, Neugier oder leichte Verärgerung ausdrücken; in formellen Kontexten sollte man präzisere Fragen verwenden.
Efeito pragmático
Signalisiert Interesse und fordert eine Erklärung der Situation.
Dica de memória
what's up?
Nota
In formellen Gesprächen wird eher 'Was ist das Problem?' oder 'Was ist geschehen?' verwendet.
Upgrade path
Was ist das Problem?
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