German Phrase
Was gibt's heute Besonderes?
Meaning
Literally, "What is there today that is special?" It is a casual way to ask what unique or noteworthy thing is happening or being offered today.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know about a special dish at a restaurant, a unique event in a schedule, or any surprise that might be happening today. It works well in informal settings with friends, coworkers, or service staff.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wasgibt'sheuteBesonderes?
gibt's (gibt es)
Contraction of "gibt es"; used in spoken German to ask if something exists or is available.
Besonderes as a nominalized adjective
Adjectives can be turned into nouns; "Besonderes" is neuter singular and is capitalized.
Word order in yes‑no questions
The verb (gibt) comes directly after the question word (Was) in German main‑clause questions.
🗨In Conversation
Was gibt's heute Besonderes?
What's special today?
Heute gibt es ein Live‑Jazz‑Set im Hinterhof.
Today there's a live jazz set in the backyard.
✕Common Mistakes
Was gibt heute Besonderes?
In spoken German the contraction "gibt's" is preferred; using just "gibt" sounds incomplete.
Was gibt's heute besonderes?
When used as a noun, the adjective must be capitalized: "Besonderes".
Was gibt's Besonderes heute?
Placing "heute" after "Besonderes" changes the natural flow; keep the adverb before the noun phrase.
↔Alternatives
Gibt es heute etwas Besonderes?
Is there anything special today?
Was ist heute besonders?
What is special today?
Was gibt es heute Besonderes zu sehen?
What special thing is there to see today?
Cultural Tip
The contraction "gibt's" is typical of spoken, informal German. In formal writing you would use the full form "gibt es". Also, Germans often ask this question when checking daily specials at cafés or when looking for events, so using it shows you’re interested in the local daily highlights.