German Phrase
Was hältst du davon?
Meaning
This phrase is a common and direct way to ask someone for their opinion or thoughts on a specific topic, idea, or situation. It literally translates to "What do you hold of it?" but is understood as "What do you think of it?" or "What's your opinion on it?". It's versatile and can be used in many contexts.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to solicit someone's opinion or reaction to something that has just been discussed, proposed, or presented. It's suitable for informal to semi-formal settings among friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. For example, after suggesting a plan, showing a new item, or discussing a recent event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Washältstdudavon
Was
'Was' is an interrogative pronoun meaning 'what'. It introduces a question asking for information about something.
hältst (halten)
'hältst' is the second person singular conjugation of the verb 'halten' (to hold). In this idiomatic expression, it means 'to think' or 'to have an opinion'.
du
'du' is the informal second person singular pronoun, meaning 'you'. It's used when addressing a single person informally.
davon
'davon' is a 'da-compound' (or 'Pronominaladverb'). It replaces 'von + es/dem' (of it/that) and refers back to a previously mentioned idea or thing, avoiding repetition.
🗨In Conversation
Ich habe eine Idee für unser nächstes Projekt. Wir könnten eine App entwickeln.
I have an idea for our next project. We could develop an app.
Oh, interessant! Was hältst du davon?
Oh, interesting! What do you think of it?
✕Common Mistakes
Was denkst du über das?
While 'denken über' means 'to think about', 'davon halten' is the more idiomatic and natural way to ask for an opinion on something specific. 'Über das' sounds less natural in this context.
Was hältst du von es?
When referring to 'it' or 'them' after a preposition, German often uses 'da-' compounds (e.g., 'davon', 'dazu', 'damit') instead of 'von es'.
↔Alternatives
Wie findest du das?
How do you find that?
Was sagst du dazu?
What do you say to that?
Was ist deine Meinung dazu?
What is your opinion on that?
Cultural Tip
Germans generally appreciate directness in communication, and asking for an opinion with 'Was hältst du davon?' is considered straightforward and appropriate. While direct, it's not impolite. People usually give honest, sometimes detailed, responses. It's common to follow up with a brief explanation of your own thoughts or to engage in a discussion based on their answer.