German Phrase
Wie geht's jetzt weiter?
Meaning
Literally, 'How does it go now further?' In everyday German it means 'What happens next?' or 'How should we proceed from here?' It’s a casual way to ask for the next steps in a plan, conversation, or situation.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversations when you want to know the next step in a process, after a meeting, during a project, or when a story is paused. It’s perfect for friends, colleagues, or classmates, but avoid it in very formal written communication.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wiegeht'sjetztweiter?
Wie (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask 'how' or 'in what way' and starts most 'how' questions.
geht's (geht es)
Contraction of the verb 'gehen' with the dummy pronoun 'es', common in spoken German.
jetzt (adverb of time)
Means 'now' and places the question in the present moment.
weiter (adverb)
Means 'further' or 'onward', indicating continuation.
Question mark
Marks the sentence as a question; intonation rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Wie geht's jetzt weiter?
What happens next?
Wir treffen uns morgen um zehn und besprechen den Plan.
We’ll meet tomorrow at ten and go over the plan.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie geht jetzt weiter?
Missing the dummy pronoun 'es' makes the sentence sound ungrammatical.
Wie geht's jetzt weiter?
Using this exact form in a formal email can be too casual; switch to the full form.
Wie geht's du jetzt weiter?
Do not add a subject like 'du' – the verb already includes the dummy pronoun.
↔Alternatives
Wie geht es jetzt weiter?
How does it go on now?
Was kommt jetzt?
What comes now?
Wie soll es jetzt weitergehen?
How should it continue now?
Wie geht es weiter?
How does it continue?
Cultural Tip
The contraction 'geht's' is typical of spoken German and appears in everyday media, podcasts, and casual chats. In formal writing you would keep the full form 'Wie geht es jetzt weiter?'. Also, Germans often use this phrase to keep a conversation moving forward, so it signals that you’re ready to act or decide.