German Phrase
Ja. Wann?
Meaning
A brief, two‑part response meaning “Yes. When?” It confirms agreement or willingness and immediately asks for the exact time or date of the proposed action.
When to use
Use this phrase after someone suggests an activity, a meeting, or a plan and you want to accept while asking for the specific timing. It works best in informal or semi‑formal conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ja.Wann?
Ja (affirmation)
Ja means “yes” and is used to give a positive answer; it can stand alone or be followed by additional information.
Wann (interrogative adverb)
Wann asks for a point in time; it is the equivalent of English “when?” and is always placed at the beginning of a question.
Punctuation & pause
In spoken German a short pause (often marked by a period or a comma) separates the affirmation from the question, signalling two distinct thoughts.
🗨In Conversation
Wir gehen am Samstag ins Kino.
We’re going to the cinema on Saturday.
Ja. Wann?
Yes. When?
✕Common Mistakes
Ja, wann?
Using a comma is not wrong, but learners often forget the short pause, making the sentence sound like a single, rushed phrase.
Ja. Wann
Leaving out the question mark removes the interrogative tone; German always ends a direct question with a question mark.
Ja. Wann ist das?
Adding “ist das” is redundant after “Wann?”; the simple “Wann?” already asks for the time.
↔Alternatives
Ja, wann genau?
Yes, exactly when?
Ja, zu welcher Zeit?
Yes, at what time?
Ja, wann soll das sein?
Yes, when is it supposed to be?
Cultural Tip
German speakers often keep short answers crisp. A period or a brief pause after “Ja” signals that you’re moving on to a new question. In more formal settings you might add a polite filler such as “Ja, bitte teilen Sie mir das genaue Datum mit.” but in everyday speech “Ja. Wann?” is perfectly natural.