German Phrase
Was empfiehlst du?
Meaning
Literally 'What do you recommend?', this informal question asks someone for a suggestion or advice about anything from food to movies. It assumes a friendly relationship with the listener.
When to use
Use it with friends, classmates, or anyone you address with 'du'. It works in casual settings like asking a colleague for a good coffee shop, a roommate for a movie, or a fellow traveler for a sightseeing tip.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wasempfiehlstdu?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' in a question. It stands at the beginning of the sentence.
empfiehlst (verb)
Present tense, 2nd person singular of 'empfehlen' (to recommend). Note the stem vowel change e → i and the -st ending.
du (personal pronoun)
Informal singular 'you'. In questions it usually follows the verb.
? (question mark)
Marks the sentence as a direct question.
🗨In Conversation
Was empfiehlst du?
What do you recommend?
Ich empfehle das neue italienische Restaurant an der Ecke.
I recommend the new Italian restaurant on the corner.
✕Common Mistakes
Was empfahlst du?
Use the present tense 'empfiehlst' for a current recommendation; 'empfahlst' is past tense.
Du empfiehlst was?
In German questions the verb usually precedes the subject.
Was empfehlst du?
The correct spelling is 'empfiehlst' with an 'i' after the stem change.
↔Alternatives
Was würdest du empfehlen?
What would you recommend?
Was kannst du mir empfehlen?
What can you recommend to me?
Hast du einen Tipp für mich?
Do you have a tip for me?
Was empfehlen Sie?
What do you recommend? (formal)
Cultural Tip
German distinguishes clearly between informal 'du' and formal 'Sie'. Switching to 'Sie' changes the verb form to 'empfehlen Sie' and adds a polite tone. Also, 'empfehlen' normally takes an accusative object (e.g., 'ein Restaurant empfehlen'), so you can specify the thing you want a recommendation about for a more precise question.