German Phrase
Was kostet's, das zu verschicken?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the price of sending a particular item. It is a concise way to inquire about shipping costs, especially when the item has already been identified.
When to use
Use this sentence at a post office, when filling out an online shipping form, or when asking a friend how much it will cost to mail something for you.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waskostet's,daszuverschicken?
Was (question word)
Used to ask 'what' or 'how much' in a question.
kostet's (contraction)
Short for "kostet es"; the apostrophe replaces the vowel of "es".
zu + infinitive
The construction "zu + infinitive" expresses purpose or the action that will be performed, similar to English "to ship".
das (demonstrative pronoun)
Refers to a neuter noun previously mentioned (e.g., "das Paket").
Punctuation
A comma separates the main clause from the infinitive clause, which is optional but common in written German.
🗨In Conversation
Was kostet's, das zu verschicken?
How much does it cost to ship that?
Für ein 500‑g‑Paket nach Berlin kostet es 4,90 €.
For a 500‑g package to Berlin it costs €4.90.
✕Common Mistakes
Was kostet das, das zu verschicken?
Missing the pronoun "es"; the correct contraction is "kostet's" (short for "kostet es").
Was kostet's, das verschicken?
Do not drop the "zu"; the infinitive clause needs it to express purpose.
Was kostet's, den zu verschicken?
If the noun is masculine or feminine, use "den" or "die" instead of "das".
↔Alternatives
Wie viel kostet der Versand?
How much does the shipping cost?
Wie hoch sind die Versandkosten?
What are the shipping costs?
Was kostet es, das zu verschicken?
What does it cost to ship that?
Cultural Tip
In formal situations (e.g., at a post office) you would usually address the clerk with "Sie" and might say "Wie viel kostet es, das zu verschicken?" The contraction "kostet's" is common in spoken, informal German but can sound a bit casual in written business correspondence.