German Phrase
Wie lange dauert's?
Meaning
Literally ‘How long does it last?’, this phrase is the everyday way to ask how much time something will take. It can refer to a single event (a meeting, a train ride) or a process (a cooking recipe, a repair).
When to use
Use it in informal conversations when you need to know the expected duration of an activity, a service, or a waiting period. It works equally well for short‑term tasks (a coffee break) and longer ones (a construction project).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wielangedauert's
Wie (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask 'how' or 'what kind of', it introduces a question about manner, degree, or quantity.
lange (duration adjective)
Describes length of time; placed after 'wie' to ask about duration.
dauert (verb 'dauern')
Third‑person singular present of 'dauern' – ‘to last, to take (time)’. It agrees with the implied subject ‘es’.
's (contraction of es)
Colloquial shortening of the pronoun ‘es’; common in spoken German but avoided in formal writing.
🗨In Conversation
Wie lange dauert's?
How long does it take?
Etwa eine Stunde, also nicht zu lange.
About an hour, so not too long.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie lange dauert?
The verb ‘dauern’ needs a subject; omit the pronoun only in very colloquial speech, which can sound incomplete to learners.
Wie lange dauert das?
‘das’ changes the meaning to ‘How long does that (specific thing) last?’, which is okay but less idiomatic when you’re asking about a process in general.
Wie lange dauert es?
This is actually correct; the mistake is using it in a formal written text where the contraction ‘dauert’s’ would be inappropriate.
↔Alternatives
Wie lange dauert es?
How long does it take?
Wie viel Zeit braucht das?
How much time does that need?
Wie lange wird das dauern?
How long will that last?
Cultural Tip
The contraction ‘dauert’s’ is typical of casual spoken German, especially in northern and central regions. In formal settings—emails, presentations, or written exams—use the full form ‘Wie lange dauert es?’. Also, Germans often appreciate a precise answer (e.g., ‘ungefähr 15 Minuten’) rather than a vague ‘ein bisschen’.