German Phrase
Gehst du irgendwohin?
Meaning
Literally ‘Are you going somewhere?’, this question asks whether the listener is heading to an unspecified place. It is used when you notice someone preparing to leave or when you suspect they have plans, but you don’t know the exact destination.
When to use
Use it in informal settings with friends, family, or colleagues when you see someone grabbing a coat, putting on shoes, or otherwise getting ready to go out. It’s a friendly way to show interest without demanding details.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gehstduirgendwohin?
Verb‑second (V2) in questions
In German yes‑no questions the finite verb comes first, followed by the subject.
du – personal pronoun
‘du’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun and is placed after the verb in V2 questions.
irgendwohin – adverb of direction
‘irgendwohin’ means ‘somewhere (to)’ and indicates an unknown destination; it is not interchangeable with ‘irgendwo’ (somewhere, static).
gehen – present tense
‘gehen’ conjugates as ‘gehe, gehst, geht…’; here we use the 2nd‑person singular ‘gehst’.
🗨In Conversation
Gehst du irgendwohin?
Are you going somewhere?
Ja, ich treffe einen Freund im Park.
Yes, I’m meeting a friend in the park.
✕Common Mistakes
Gehst du irgendwo?
‘irgendwo’ means ‘somewhere’ (static location). For a direction you need ‘irgendwohin’.
Gehst du zu irgendwohin?
‘zu’ requires a specific place (e.g., ‘zu dem Bahnhof’). It cannot replace ‘irgendwohin’ which is indefinite.
Geht du irgendwohin?
‘Geht’ is the 3rd‑person singular form; with ‘du’ you must use ‘gehst’.
↔Alternatives
Gehst du irgendwo?
Are you going somewhere?
Hast du vor, irgendwohin zu gehen?
Do you intend to go somewhere?
Wohin gehst du?
Where are you going?
Cultural Tip
‘Gehst du irgendwohin?’ is informal; in a formal context you would say ‘Gehen Sie irgendwohin?’ or simply ‘Wohin gehen Sie?’. Germans often prefer the more direct ‘Wohin gehst du?’ when they actually want to know the destination, while ‘irgendwohin’ keeps the question vague and polite.