German Phrase
Für wann und wie viele Personen?
Meaning
This phrase is a concise way to inquire about the desired time and number of individuals for a reservation, booking, or event. It's commonly used in service industries like restaurants, hotels, or when planning group activities. It directly asks for two key pieces of information in one go.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when making a reservation over the phone or in person, or when someone is inquiring about availability for a group. It's a standard question asked by staff at restaurants, hotels, or event venues to gather necessary details for a booking.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Fürwannundwie vielePersonen
Für (for)
The preposition 'für' always takes the accusative case. Here, it indicates the purpose or recipient of the action, specifically 'for when' and 'for how many people'.
wann (when)
'Wann' is an interrogative adverb used to ask about a point in time. It's distinct from 'wenn' (if/when), which is used for conditional clauses or repeated actions.
und (and)
'Und' is a coordinating conjunction that connects two words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. Here, it links the two questions about time and number.
wie viele (how many)
'Wie viele' is used to ask about the quantity of countable nouns. It literally translates to 'how many' and is essential when inquiring about a number of items or people.
Personen (people)
'Personen' is the plural form of 'die Person' (the person). It's the standard and more formal term for 'people' in German, especially in service contexts.
🗨In Conversation
Guten Tag, ich möchte einen Tisch reservieren.
Good day, I would like to reserve a table.
Gerne. Für wann und wie viele Personen?
Certainly. For when and for how many people?
✕Common Mistakes
Wann und wie viele Personen?
Omitting 'Für' before 'wann' makes the sentence grammatically incomplete and less natural. 'Für' is essential to indicate 'for when'.
Für wann und wie viel Personen?
When referring to a countable noun like 'Personen' (people), you must use 'viele' (many). 'Viel' is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., 'viel Wasser').
Für wann und wie viele Leute?
While 'Leute' (people) is not strictly wrong, 'Personen' is generally preferred in formal or service contexts like making reservations. 'Leute' is more informal.
↔Alternatives
Wann möchten Sie kommen und wie viele Personen werden es sein?
When would you like to come and how many people will there be?
Für welchen Zeitpunkt und mit wie vielen Gästen?
For which time and with how many guests?
Um welche Uhrzeit und für wie viele?
At what time and for how many?
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, directness in communication, especially in service interactions, is common and appreciated. This phrase is a good example of that. When making reservations, it's typical to provide these details upfront or be prepared to answer them directly. Punctuality is also highly valued, so specifying the exact time is important.