German Phrase
Was schaust du heute Abend?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone which TV program, movie, or series they plan to watch later this evening. It’s a casual way to start a conversation about leisure plans.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know a friend’s or family member’s viewing plans for the night – whether they’re staying in to binge‑watch a series, watching a live sports event, or heading to the cinema.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WasschaustduheuteAbend?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' and always starts a wh‑question in German.
schaust (verb schauen)
2nd person singular present of 'schauen' (to watch). In wh‑questions the verb follows the interrogative word.
du (personal pronoun)
Subject pronoun placed after the verb in a wh‑question.
heute (adverb of time)
Means 'today' and can be combined with 'Abend' to specify the evening of the same day.
Abend (noun)
Capitalised noun meaning 'evening'. In this phrase it refers to the time after work/dinner.
Word order in wh‑questions
Structure: Interrogative + verb + subject + (time) + (object).
🗨In Conversation
Was schaust du heute Abend?
What are you watching tonight?
Ich will den neuen Film im Kino sehen.
I’m going to see the new movie at the cinema.
✕Common Mistakes
Was siehst du heute Abend?
‘sehen’ means ‘to see’ and is not used for watching TV or movies in this context.
Du schaust was heute Abend?
Incorrect word order; the interrogative pronoun must come first, followed by the verb.
Was schaust du heute abend?
Nouns in German are always capitalised.
↔Alternatives
Was guckst du heute Abend?
What are you watching tonight? (colloquial)
Was hast du heute Abend vor zu schauen?
What do you plan to watch this evening?
Welchen Film schaust du heute Abend?
Which movie are you watching tonight?
Cultural Tip
In German, 'schauen' is the standard verb for watching TV or movies, while 'gucken' is a more informal, colloquial alternative. When speaking with strangers or in a professional setting, stick to 'schauen'. Also, 'heute Abend' usually refers to the period after 6 p.m., so the question implies a plan for that time slot.