German Phrase
Was kostet das?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the price of a particular item that is being pointed at or referred to. It is a neutral, everyday way to inquire about cost in German.
When to use
Use it in shops, markets, cafés, or online when you want to know how much something costs. It works both in casual conversation and in more formal settings, especially if you add a polite opener like ‘Entschuldigung’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waskostetdas?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
‘Was’ means ‘what’ and is used to form yes‑no or information questions.
kosten (verb)
‘kosten’ means ‘to cost’; in the present tense it conjugates as ‘kostet’ for third‑person singular.
Verb‑second (V2) word order
In main clauses the finite verb occupies the second position, so ‘Was’ (the question word) comes first, followed by the verb ‘kostet’.
das (demonstrative pronoun)
‘das’ points to a specific item that both speakers can see; it functions as the subject of ‘kosten’.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, was kostet das?
Excuse me, what does that cost?
Das kostet fünf Euro.
That costs five euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie kostet das?
‘Wie’ asks ‘how’, not ‘how much’; use ‘Wie viel’ for price questions.
Was kostet es?
While grammatically correct, ‘das’ is preferred when the object is visible; ‘es’ sounds more abstract.
↔Alternatives
Wie viel kostet das?
How much does that cost?
Was ist der Preis?
What is the price?
Wie viel kostet es?
How much does it cost?
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries it is customary to say ‘Entschuldigung’ or ‘Bitte’ before asking for a price, especially in smaller shops. Prices usually include the Mehrwertsteuer (VAT), so the amount quoted is the final price you will pay. In some regions, especially in the south, you might hear ‘Was kostet das denn?’ which adds a friendly ‘denn’ for a softer tone.