German Phrase
Was hältst du von diesem Vorschlag?
Meaning
Literally, 'What do you hold of this suggestion?' It is the standard German way to ask someone’s opinion about a specific proposal or idea.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal or semi‑formal settings when you want to know what a friend, colleague, or classmate thinks about a concrete suggestion. It is too casual for a formal business meeting with senior executives, where you would switch to the polite 'Sie' form.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WashältstduvondiesemVorschlag?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' in yes‑no or open questions.
hältst (verb halten, 2nd person singular)
Conjugated for 'du'; means 'to hold' but in this idiom it means 'to think' or 'to consider'.
du (personal pronoun)
Informal second‑person singular; matches the verb form 'hältst'.
von (preposition)
Governs the dative case; introduces the object of the opinion.
diesem (demonstrative pronoun, dative neuter)
Refers to 'Vorschlag' and must be in dative because of the preposition 'von'.
Vorschlag (noun, masculine)
Means 'suggestion' or 'proposal'; in the dative case it stays 'Vorschlag' (no ending change).
🗨In Conversation
Was hältst du von diesem Vorschlag?
What do you think of this suggestion?
Ich finde ihn sehr praktisch, aber wir sollten noch die Kosten prüfen.
I think it’s very practical, but we should still check the costs.
✕Common Mistakes
Was halten du von diesem Vorschlag?
Verb and pronoun must agree; use 'hältst du' (2nd person singular).
Was hältst du von dieser Vorschlag?
The preposition 'von' requires dative, so the correct form is 'diesem'.
Was hältst du von das Vorschlag?
After 'von' you need the dative article 'dem' (or demonstrative 'diesem'), not the accusative 'das'.
↔Alternatives
Wie findest du diesen Vorschlag?
How do you find this suggestion?
Was meinst du zu diesem Vorschlag?
What do you think about this suggestion?
Wie beurteilst du diesen Vorschlag?
How would you assess this suggestion?
Cultural Tip
The construction 'Was hältst du von …?' is idiomatic German for asking opinions. It is informal; switch to 'Was halten Sie von …?' when speaking to strangers, superiors, or in written business correspondence. Also, remember that the preposition 'von' always forces the dative case, so 'diesem' (not 'dieser') is required.