Dutch question words: wie, wat, waar, wanneer, hoe, waarom
The Dutch wh-words and their word order (question word + verb + subject), plus waar + preposition for things.
An open question (in Dutch an open vraag) asks for information, not just yes or no. It begins with a question word such as wat, waar or waarom: Waar woon je? (Where do you live?).
How to make it
Put the question word first, the finite verb second, then the subject: question word + verb + subject. This keeps the verb in second position, the same verb-second rule that ordinary statements follow.
- Choose the question word: Waar (where).
- Add the finite verb next: Waar woon…
- Then the subject and the rest: Waar woon je? (Where do you live?)
| Question word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wie | who | Wie is dat? (Who is that?) |
| wat | what | Wat doe je? (What are you doing?) |
| waar | where | Waar woon je? (Where do you live?) |
| wanneer | when | Wanneer begint de les? (When does the lesson start?) |
| hoe | how | Hoe gaat het? (How are you?) |
| waarom | why | Waarom huil je? (Why are you crying?) |
| hoeveel | how much / how many | Hoeveel kost het? (How much does it cost?) |
| welke | which | Welke wil je? (Which one do you want?) |
A few more that combine a question word with another piece:
- hoe laat? (at what time?): Hoe laat is het? (What time is it?)
- hoe heet je? — this is how Dutch asks a name (literally how are you called, not what is your name).
- waar … vandaan (where from): Waar kom je vandaan? (Where do you come from?)
When the question word is the subject (no inversion)
When wie or wat is itself the subject of the sentence, there is nothing to swap — the verb simply follows it: Wie belt? (Who is calling?) Wat gebeurt er? (What is happening?). Because the question word already fills the first slot as the subject, the verb stays right behind it, exactly as in a statement.
waar + preposition for things (waarmee, waarover)
For things, Dutch does not put a preposition next to wat. Instead it glues waar to the preposition as one word: not met wat but waarmee (with what); not over wat but waarover (about what). This mirrors the way het turns into er (see er + preposition).
- waarmee (with what): Waarmee schrijf je? (What are you writing with?)
- waarover (about what): Waarover praten jullie? (What are you talking about?)
- waarop (on/for what), waaraan (of/about what), waarvan (of/from what).
These can also split, with waar at the front and the preposition later: Waar denk je aan? means the same as Waaraan denk je? (What are you thinking about?).
Mistakes to avoid
Do not send the verb to the end, as English word order might tempt you to. Waar je woont? is wrong for a direct question — it must be Waar woon je?, with the verb second. The verb-last order (… waar je woont) belongs to an indirect question: Ik weet niet waar je woont. (I don't know where you live.)
- Vul in: *___ woon je?* (Where do you live?)
- Waar
- Wat
- Wie
- Hoe
*Waar* means 'where' → *Waar woon je?* The verb *woon* comes right after the question word.
- Which is correct?
- Waarom je huilt?
- Waarom huil je?
- Waarom huilt je?
- Huil je waarom?
Question word + verb + subject, and *-t* drops after *je*: *Waarom huil je?* (Why are you crying?)
- How do you ask 'with what' about a thing?
- met wat
- waarmee
- waarover
- hoeveel
*Wat* does not stand next to a preposition. Use *waar* + preposition → *waarmee* (with what).
- Which is the correct way to ask 'Who is calling?'
- Wie belt?
- Belt wie?
- Wie belt je?
- Wie bel je?
*Wie* is the subject here, so there is no inversion — the verb follows it directly: *Wie belt?*
- Spot the error in this direct question: *Waar de bushalte is?*
- It is correct.
- It should be *Waar is de bushalte?* — the verb comes second
- It should stay *Waar de bushalte is?* — the verb belongs last
- It should be *Is waar de bushalte?*
In a direct question the verb sits in second position → *Waar is de bushalte?* (Where is the bus stop?). Verb-last is only for indirect questions.
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Vul in: ___ woon je? (Where do you live?)