German Phrase
Welche Nebenwirkungen gibt's?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Which side effects are there?’ It is a casual way to ask about possible adverse reactions of a medication, supplement, or treatment.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re talking with a doctor, pharmacist, or a friend about a drug you’re taking or considering. It’s perfectly fine in everyday conversation, but in a formal medical consultation you might prefer the full form ‘Welche Nebenwirkungen gibt es?’
✦Grammar Breakdown
WelcheNebenwirkungengibt's?
Welche (interrogative determiner)
‘Welche’ is the feminine/plural form of ‘welcher/welche/welches’ and is used to ask about a specific set of things; it agrees with the noun it modifies.
Nebenwirkungen (noun, plural)
A compound noun meaning ‘side effects’; it is plural, so the accompanying verb must be in the third‑person plural or the existential construction.
gibt's (contraction of gibt es)
‘gibt’ is the third‑person singular of ‘geben’ used in the existential phrase ‘es gibt’; in spoken German the two words are often merged to ‘gibt’s’.
🗨In Conversation
Welche Nebenwirkungen gibt's bei diesem Antibiotikum?
What side effects does this antibiotic have?
Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind Übelkeit und Durchfall, aber schwere Reaktionen sind selten.
Common side effects are nausea and diarrhea, but serious reactions are rare.
✕Common Mistakes
Welcher Nebenwirkungen gibt's?
‘Welcher’ is masculine singular; the noun ‘Nebenwirkungen’ is plural, so you need ‘Welche’.
Welche Nebenwirkungen es gibt?
When you keep the full form, the word order must stay ‘gibt es’, not ‘es gibt’ in this question.
Welche Nebenwirkungen gibt's?
In formal writing you should not use the contraction; use ‘gibt es’ instead.
↔Alternatives
Welche Nebenwirkungen hat das Medikament?
What side effects does the medication have?
Gibt es Nebenwirkungen?
Are there any side effects?
Was für Nebenwirkungen können auftreten?
What kind of side effects can occur?
Cultural Tip
‘gibt’s’ is a colloquial contraction that you’ll hear in everyday speech, TV shows, and podcasts. In a hospital or when speaking to a healthcare professional, stick to the full form ‘gibt es’ to sound more professional. Also, Germans tend to be very precise about side‑effect information, so asking this question is considered responsible and appreciated.