German Phrase
Gibt's 'nen Schulball?
Meaning
Literally: "Is there a school dance?" The speaker is asking whether a school is organizing a dance event, usually in a casual, peer‑to‑peer context.
When to use
Use this phrase with friends, classmates, or anyone you address informally. It’s perfect for chatting about upcoming school events, planning outfits, or confirming attendance.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gibt's'nenSchulball?
Gibt's = gibt es
The colloquial contraction "Gibt's" combines the verb "gibt" (from "geben") with the pronoun "es" and is used in informal questions.
'nen = einen
The article "'nen" is a spoken short form of the masculine accusative indefinite article "einen".
Accusative case
"Schulball" is the direct object of the impersonal verb "geben", so it takes the accusative article "einen".
Word order in yes‑no questions
In German yes‑no questions the verb (or its contracted form) comes first, followed by the subject or pronoun.
🗨In Conversation
Gibt's 'nen Schulball?
Is there a school dance?
Ja, am Freitag in der Turnhalle. Hast du schon ein Outfit?
Yes, on Friday in the gym. Have you already got an outfit?
✕Common Mistakes
Gibt's ein Schulball?
The article must be accusative "einen" (or its colloquial form "'nen"); "ein" is nominative and incorrect here.
Gibt's 'ne Schulball?
The noun "Schulball" is masculine, so the correct accusative article is "'nen", not "'ne" (which is for feminine nouns).
Gibt's 'nen Schulball!
A question requires a question mark; using an exclamation point changes the meaning to a surprised statement.
↔Alternatives
Gibt es einen Schulball?
Is there a school dance?
Steht ein Schulball an?
Is a school dance scheduled?
Wird ein Schulball organisiert?
Is a school dance being organized?
Cultural Tip
School dances (Schulbälle) are a traditional part of German secondary‑school life, especially in the upper grades. They often take place in a gym or a rented hall and are a chance to dress up and socialize. While "Gibt's 'nen Schulball?" is perfectly natural among students, avoid the contraction in formal contexts such as speaking to teachers or writing an email.