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German Phrase

Wie lange geht das schon so?

/viː ˈlaŋə ɡeːt das ʃoːn zoː/
Meaning"How long has it been like this?"
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Meaning

The sentence asks for the length of time a particular situation has been occurring. It combines ‘schon’ (already) with ‘so’ (like this) to convey a slight sense of surprise or curiosity about how long something has been the way it is.

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When to use

Use this phrase in informal conversations when you want to know how long a condition, habit, or problem has existed – for example, a friend’s cold, a new work routine, or a recurring traffic jam.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Wielangegehtdasschonso?

1

Wie lange

A fixed question phrase meaning ‘how long’; it does not change with case or gender.

2

geht (gehen)

3rd person singular present of ‘gehen’; used here as a dummy verb to ask about the duration of a state.

3

das

Demonstrative pronoun referring to the situation or thing just mentioned.

4

schon

Means ‘already’; adds the nuance that the speaker expects the situation to have lasted for some time.

5

so

Adverb meaning ‘like this/that way’; together with ‘schon’ it asks about the length of the current state.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wie lange geht das schon so?

How long has it been like this?

Seit etwa drei Wochen, und es wird langsam besser.

For about three weeks, and it’s slowly getting better.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wie lange ist das schon so?

    ‘Ist’ is the present of ‘sein’ and does not convey the ‘ongoing’ nuance that ‘geht … so’ does in this idiom.

  • Wie lange geht das schon schon so?

    Repeating ‘schon’ is redundant and sounds unnatural.

  • Wie lange geht das schon so

    Missing the question mark or intonation makes it sound like a statement rather than a question.

↔Alternatives

  • Wie lange dauert das schon?

    How long has that been going on?

  • Wie lange ist das schon so?

    How long has it been like this?

  • Wie lange läuft das schon?

    How long has that been running?

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Cultural Tip

German speakers often appreciate directness, so asking ‘Wie lange geht das schon so?’ is perfectly natural in casual settings. The word ‘schon’ adds a subtle hint that the speaker expected the situation to have lasted a while, so use it when you’re genuinely curious rather than accusatory. In formal contexts you might replace ‘geht’ with ‘besteht’ (e.g., ‘Wie lange besteht das schon?’).