German Phrase
Kommt drauf an, was du willst und wie viel Geld du ausgeben willst.
Meaning
Literally: "It depends on what you want and how much money you want to spend." The phrase is used to express that a decision or outcome is conditional on two factors: the person's desire and the budget they are willing to allocate.
When to use
Use this informal expression in everyday conversation when someone asks for your opinion, plans, or preferences, especially when you need to consider both personal desire and financial limits.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Kommtdraufan,wasduwillstundwievielGeldduausgebenwillst.
Kommt drauf an
Colloquial contraction of "Kommt darauf an" meaning "it depends". "drauf" replaces "darauf" in informal speech.
Subordinate clause with "was"
"was" introduces a content clause (what you want) and triggers verb‑final word order.
"wie viel" + noun
Used to ask about quantity; the noun (Geld) follows directly after the quantity phrase.
Verb "ausgeben"
"ausgeben" (to spend) appears in infinitive form after the modal verb "willst".
Verb‑final in subordinate clauses
Both subordinate clauses end with the verb "willst" (modal) and "ausgeben willst" (modal + infinitive).
🗨In Conversation
Willst du am Wochenende ins Restaurant gehen?
Do you want to go to a restaurant this weekend?
Kommt drauf an, was du willst und wie viel Geld du ausgeben willst.
It depends on what you want and how much money you want to spend.
✕Common Mistakes
wie viel Geld du willst ausgeben
The infinitive "ausgeben" must stay directly after the modal verb; the correct order is "wie viel Geld du ausgeben willst".
Kommt darauf an, was du willst und wie viel Geld du ausgeben willst.
In informal speech "drauf" is preferred; using the full form in a casual conversation can sound stiff.
was du willst und wie viel Geld du willst ausgeben
The modal verb "willst" should not be split; keep the infinitive together with the modal at the end of the clause.
↔Alternatives
Das hängt davon ab, was du möchtest und wie viel Geld du ausgeben möchtest.
That depends on what you would like and how much money you would like to spend.
Es kommt darauf an, was du willst und wie viel du ausgeben willst.
It depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.
Ob wir gehen, hängt davon ab, was du willst und wie viel Geld du ausgeben willst.
Whether we go depends on what you want and how much money you want to spend.
Cultural Tip
"Kommt drauf an" is very informal and typical in spoken German among friends or peers. In written or formal contexts you should use the full form "Kommt darauf an". Also, avoid mixing "willst" with "möchtest" in the same sentence; keep the modal consistent for smoother style.