German Phrase
Was heißt dieses Wort?
Meaning
Literally, “What does this word mean?” It is used when you encounter an unfamiliar word and want to know its definition or translation.
When to use
Use this phrase while reading a text, listening to a conversation, or in a language‑learning class when you need clarification about a specific word’s meaning.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WasheißtdiesesWort?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about something unknown; it functions as the subject of the question.
heißt (verb ‘heißen’)
Present‑tense 3rd‑person singular of ‘heißen’, meaning ‘to be called / to mean’. In questions the verb stays in second position.
dieses (demonstrative pronoun)
Declines with the noun it modifies; here it is in the neuter nominative singular to match ‘Wort’.
Wort (neuter noun)
‘Word’; neuter gender, nominative singular. The article/demonstrative must agree in case, gender, and number.
Verb‑second (V2) word order
In German main clauses the finite verb occupies the second slot, so the question starts with ‘Was’ followed by the verb ‘heißt’.
🗨In Conversation
Was heißt dieses Wort?
What does this word mean?
Es bedeutet ‚friend‘.
It means ‘friend’.
✕Common Mistakes
Was heißt dieser Wort?
‘Wort’ is neuter, so the correct demonstrative is ‘dieses’, not the masculine ‘dieser’.
Was ist dieses Wort?
‘Ist’ means ‘is’; the verb for asking a word’s meaning is ‘heißen’ (or ‘bedeuten’).
Was heißt das Wort?
‘Das Wort’ is acceptable but changes the nuance; it refers to a previously mentioned word rather than the one you are pointing at.
↔Alternatives
Wie lautet die Bedeutung dieses Wortes?
What is the meaning of this word?
Was bedeutet dieses Wort?
What does this word mean?
Was heißt das?
What does that mean?
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘heißen’ is the standard verb for asking the meaning of a word, while ‘bedeuten’ can also be used but sounds slightly more formal. Remember that ‘Wort’ is neuter, so the demonstrative must be ‘dieses’, not ‘dieser’ or ‘diese’. In casual conversation you might drop the demonstrative and simply ask “Was heißt das?” which is perfectly natural.