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German Phrase

Hast du heute Abend was Spannendes vor?

/has(t) du ˈhɔʏtə ˈaːbn̩ vas ˈʃpanən.dəs fɔʁ/
Meaning"Do you have anything exciting planned for tonight?"
💡

Meaning

The sentence asks whether the listener has any exciting plans for this evening. It is informal and assumes a friendly relationship between speakers.

🎯

When to use

Use it in casual conversation with friends, classmates or coworkers when you want to know what they are doing later that night. It works well as a conversation starter at the end of the workday.

✦Grammar Breakdown

HastduheuteAbendwasSpannendesvor?

1

Separable verb "vorhaben"

In the present perfect, the prefix "vor" moves to the end of the clause: "Hast ... vor?"

2

"was" = "etwas" (colloquial)

"was" is the spoken short form of "etwas" and is common in informal questions.

3

Adjective ending "-es" after indefinite pronoun

When an adjective follows "etwas/was", it takes the neuter ending "-es" (Spannendes).

4

Word order

In a yes‑no question the finite verb "Hast" comes first, followed by the subject.

🗨In Conversation

A

Hast du heute Abend was Spannendes vor?

Do you have anything exciting planned for tonight?

Ja, ich gehe mit ein paar Freunden ins Kino.

Yes, I'm going to the movies with a few friends.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Hast du heute Abend was Spannendes?

    The verb "vorhaben" is separable; the prefix "vor" must appear at the end of the clause.

  • Hast du heute Abend etwas Spannendes vor

    In informal speech, "was" (short for "etwas") is more natural than the full form.

  • Hast du heute Abend was Spannende vor?

    After "was/etwas" the adjective takes the neuter ending "-es", not "-e".

↔Alternatives

  • Hast du heute Abend etwas Interessantes vor?

    Do you have anything interesting planned for tonight?

  • Was hast du heute Abend vor?

    What are you up to this evening?

  • Gibt es etwas Spannendes, das du heute Abend machst?

    Is there something exciting you’re doing tonight?

de

Cultural Tip

In spoken German, "was" is preferred over the more formal "etwas". The adjective "Spannendes" is neuter because it refers to an indefinite thing. Native speakers often replace "Spannendes" with "Interessantes" or simply ask "Was hast du heute Abend vor?" to keep the question short.