German Phrase
Okay. Wann passt es dir?
Meaning
Literally, “Okay. When does it fit you?” In everyday English it translates to “Alright, when works for you?” It’s a friendly way to ask someone about their availability.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal spoken German when you’re trying to set up a meeting, a coffee date, or any activity with a friend, colleague, or classmate. It’s appropriate once both parties have agreed to meet but haven’t yet fixed a time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
OkayWannpasstesdir
Okay
A casual, borrowed interjection meaning ‘alright’ or ‘fine’, used to signal agreement before a question.
Wann
Interrogative adverb meaning ‘when’. It always stands at the beginning of a yes‑no or wh‑question.
passt (verb passen)
Third‑person singular present of ‘passen’ – literally ‘fits/works’. In this context it asks whether a time fits the listener.
es
Impersonal pronoun used as the subject of ‘passen’; German often uses ‘es’ with ‘passen’ even when the real subject is a time.
dir (dative of du)
Dative pronoun meaning ‘to you’. ‘passen’ takes a dative object, so the person the time must fit for is in dative.
🗨In Conversation
Okay. Wann passt es dir?
Alright, when works for you?
Wie wäre es am Freitag um 18 Uhr?
How about Friday at 6 p.m.?
✕Common Mistakes
Okay. Wann passt du?
‘passen’ requires a dative object, so the correct form is ‘passt dir’. Using the nominative ‘du’ is grammatically wrong.
Okay. Wann passt dir?
The subject ‘es’ must stay; dropping it changes the sentence structure and sounds unnatural.
Okay. Wann passen es dir?
Verb must agree with the singular subject ‘es’, so the correct form is ‘passt’, not ‘passen’.
↔Alternatives
Okay. Wann hast du Zeit?
Okay. When do you have time?
Okay. Welcher Tag passt dir?
Okay. Which day works for you?
Okay. Wann bist du frei?
Okay. When are you free?
Cultural Tip
German speakers value clarity and punctuality. Using ‘passt’ is a very common, slightly informal way to ask about scheduling. In more formal contexts you might say ‘Welcher Termin würde Ihnen passen?’ (Which appointment would suit you?). Also, remember that ‘dir’ is dative; saying ‘passt du’ is a frequent error for learners.