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German Phrase

Geht's dir jetzt besser?

/ɡeːts diːɐ̯ ˈjɛtst ˈbɛsɐ/
Meaning"Are you feeling better now?"
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Meaning

Literally, "Is it going better for you now?" In everyday German it means "Are you feeling better now?" It is used to check on someone's health after they have been ill or uncomfortable.

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When to use

Use this question after a person has been sick, injured, or has just finished a stressful event. It is informal, so it fits conversations with friends, family, or colleagues you know well.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Geht'sdirjetztbesser?

1

Geht's = geht es

The contraction "Geht's" combines the verb *gehen* (3rd person singular) with the impersonal pronoun *es*. It is the colloquial way to ask "geht es...".

2

Dative pronoun *dir*

*dir* is the dative form of *du* and is required after the verb *gehen* when you ask about someone's state.

3

Temporal adverb *jetzt*

*jetzt* means "now" and is placed before the adjective/comparative to indicate the time reference.

4

Comparative adjective *besser*

*besser* is the comparative of *gut* and is used predicatively after the verb "gehen" to describe an improved condition.

🗨In Conversation

A

Geht's dir jetzt besser?

Are you feeling better now?

Ja, danke. Es geht mir schon besser.

Yes, thanks. I'm feeling better already.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Geht du dir jetzt besser?

    The verb *gehen* requires the dative pronoun *dir*, not the nominative *du*.

  • Geht's dich jetzt besser?

    Use *dir* (dative) instead of *dich* (accusative) after *gehen*.

  • Geht's dir jetzt gut?

    While *gut* is understandable, the comparative *besser* is the idiomatic choice when asking about improvement.

↔Alternatives

  • Fühlst du dich jetzt besser?

    Do you feel better now?

  • Bist du jetzt wieder fit?

    Are you fit again now?

  • Geht es dir besser?

    Is it getting better for you?

  • Wie geht es dir jetzt?

    How are you now?

de

Cultural Tip

The phrase is informal because it uses the dative *dir*. In a formal setting (e.g., with a doctor or an older acquaintance) you would say "Geht es Ihnen jetzt besser?" Also, the contraction *Geht's* is typical in spoken German and in casual writing, but you will see the full form *Geht es* in more formal texts.