German Phrase
Wer ist dein Lieblingsautor?
Meaning
Literally: "Who is your favorite author?" It asks the listener to name the writer they like most. The question is informal because it uses the possessive "dein" and the verb form "ist" with "du" implied.
When to use
Use this question in casual conversation with friends, book‑clubs, language‑exchange partners, or any situation where you want to learn about someone's reading preferences. It works well after a brief small‑talk or when the topic of literature comes up.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WeristdeinLieblingsautor?
Wer (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about a person. It does not change with case; the verb determines the case of the answer.
ist (sein, 3rd person singular)
The present‑tense form of the verb "sein" used as a linking verb in questions.
dein (possessive determiner)
Informal "your". It agrees with the gender, number and case of the noun that follows; here it is masculine nominative, so "dein".
Lieblingsautor (compound noun)
A compound of "Lieblings‑" (favorite) + "Autor" (author). The whole noun is masculine, nominative singular.
? (question mark)
Marks the sentence as a direct question in written German.
🗨In Conversation
Wer ist dein Lieblingsautor?
Who is your favorite author?
Mein Lieblingsautor ist Haruki Murakami.
My favorite author is Haruki Murakami.
✕Common Mistakes
Wer ist deine Lieblingsautor?
"Lieblingsautor" is masculine, so the correct possessive is "dein", not "deine".
Wer sind dein Lieblingsautor?
The subject is singular; the verb must be "ist", not the plural "sind".
Wer ist dein Lieblingsautorin?
If you want to ask about a female author, you would still say "Lieblingsautor" because the noun stays masculine; you could add "Weibliche" for clarification, but "Autorin" changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Welcher Autor gefällt dir am besten?
Which author do you like best?
Welcher Schriftsteller ist dein Favorit?
Which writer is your favorite?
Hast du einen Lieblingsautor?
Do you have a favorite author?
Cultural Tip
In German, the prefix "Lieblings‑" is very productive; you can create "Lieblingsfilm", "Lieblingsessen", etc. When speaking to strangers or in a formal setting, replace "dein" with the polite "Ihr" (Wer ist Ihr Lieblingsautor?). Also, Germans often discuss authors in the context of their literary tradition, so mentioning a German writer (e.g., Thomas Mann) can spark a deeper conversation.