German Phrase
Was kostet die Versicherung?
Meaning
This phrase directly asks for the price of an insurance policy. It's a straightforward question used to inquire about the financial outlay required for coverage. It can be applied to various types of insurance, from car to health to home.
When to use
You would use this phrase when you are shopping for insurance, comparing different policies, or simply trying to understand the financial commitment involved. It's appropriate in a formal or informal setting when discussing insurance options with an agent, a friend, or when looking at policy details.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WaskostetdieVersicherung
Was (Question Word)
'Was' is a common interrogative pronoun meaning 'what'. In German, it's frequently used to ask about prices or costs, similar to 'how much' in English when referring to a single item's price.
kosten (Verb)
'Kosten' means 'to cost'. It's a regular verb. Here, it's conjugated in the third person singular present tense ('kostet') to agree with 'die Versicherung' (the insurance).
die (Definite Article)
'Die' is the feminine definite article ('the') in German. 'Versicherung' is a feminine noun, so it takes 'die'.
Versicherung (Noun)
'Versicherung' is a feminine noun meaning 'insurance'. Like all German nouns, it is capitalized. It refers to any type of insurance policy.
🗨In Conversation
Ich brauche eine neue Autoversicherung.
I need new car insurance.
Okay, und was kostet die Versicherung?
Okay, and how much does the insurance cost?
✕Common Mistakes
Wie viel kostet die Versicherung?
While 'wie viel' means 'how much', for prices and costs in German, 'was' is the more natural and common choice. 'Wie viel' is typically used for countable or uncountable quantities.
Was die Versicherung kostet?
This word order is incorrect for a direct question. In a direct question, the conjugated verb ('kostet') should come immediately after the question word ('Was').
↔Alternatives
Wie teuer ist die Versicherung?
How expensive is the insurance?
Was sind die Kosten für die Versicherung?
What are the costs for the insurance?
Cultural Tip
Germans tend to be very direct in their communication, especially when it comes to practical matters like finances. Asking 'Was kostet die Versicherung?' is perfectly normal and expected. Insurance is also a significant part of German life, with many types considered essential, so discussing costs is a common and accepted practice.