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German Phrase

Welche Symptome hast du?

/ˈvɛlçə ˈzʏmptoːmə hast duː/
Meaning"What symptoms do you have?"
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Meaning

Literally, “Which symptoms do you have?” It is used to ask someone about the specific health problems they are experiencing, typically in a medical or caring context.

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When to use

Use this informal question when checking on a friend, family member, or a patient you know well. In a clinic or with strangers switch to the formal version: “Welche Symptome haben Sie?”.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WelcheSymptomehastdu?

1

Welcher/Welche/Welches

Interrogative determiner that agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Here 'Welche' matches the plural neuter noun 'Symptome'.

2

Symptome (Plural)

Noun 'Symptom' (neuter) forms its plural with -e: 'Symptome'. Used with no article in questions.

3

Verb‑second (V2) word order

In main clauses German places the finite verb in second position. The question word 'Welche' occupies the first slot, so the verb 'hast' follows.

4

du (informal you)

Second‑person singular informal pronoun. Conjugates the verb 'haben' as 'hast'. Use 'Sie' for formal contexts.

5

Question mark

The sentence ends with a question mark, signalling rising intonation in spoken German.

🗨In Conversation

A

Welche Symptome hast du?

What symptoms do you have?

Ich habe Kopfschmerzen und leichtes Fieber.

I have a headache and a slight fever.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Welcher Symptome hast du?

    ‘Welcher’ is masculine singular; ‘Symptome’ is plural neuter, so the correct form is ‘Welche’.

  • Welche Symptome haben du?

    The verb must agree with the subject ‘du’; use ‘hast’, not ‘haben’.

  • Welche Symptome hast Sie?

    Mixing informal pronoun ‘du’ with formal ‘Sie’ is incorrect. Use either ‘du hast’ or ‘Sie haben’.

↔Alternatives

  • Was für Symptome hast du?

    What kind of symptoms do you have?

  • Welche Anzeichen hast du?

    Which signs do you have?

  • Wie fühlst du dich?

    How do you feel?

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Cultural Tip

German speakers tend to be direct about health issues, but politeness matters. In a professional setting always use the formal ‘Sie’. Also, the word ‘Symptom’ sounds clinical; in everyday conversation many people prefer ‘Beschwerden’ (complaints) or simply describe the feeling (z. B. ‘Ich fühle mich krank’).