German Phrase
Was sind deine Schwächen?
Meaning
Literally, 'What are your weaknesses?'. It is a direct way to ask someone to name areas where they feel less competent or need improvement.
When to use
Common in job interviews, performance reviews, or self‑reflection exercises. It can also appear in casual conversation among friends when discussing personal development.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WassinddeineSchwächen
Interrogativpronomen 'Was'
Used to ask about things or abstract concepts; here it asks 'what' in a plural sense.
Verb 'sein' (sind)
Present tense of 'sein' for 2nd person plural (ihr) or formal 'Sie', but in questions it matches the subject.
Possessivpronomen 'deine'
Shows ownership; matches the noun in gender (feminine) and number (plural).
Noun 'Schwäche' (plural Schwächen)
Means 'weakness' or 'shortcoming'; plural form ends with -en after an umlaut change.
🗨In Conversation
Was sind deine Schwächen?
What are your weaknesses?
Ich neige dazu, zu perfektionistisch zu sein, und manchmal verliere ich den Fokus bei langen Projekten.
I tend to be a perfectionist, and sometimes I lose focus on long projects.
✕Common Mistakes
Was sind dein Schwächen?
The possessive must agree with the plural noun 'Schwächen', so it should be 'deine'.
Was ist deine Schwächen?
The verb must be plural to match the plural subject 'Schwächen'. Use 'sind' not 'ist'.
Was sind deine Schwäche?
When asking about multiple weaknesses, use the plural 'Schwächen'.
↔Alternatives
Welche Schwächen hast du?
Which weaknesses do you have?
Wo siehst du deine Schwächen?
Where do you see your weaknesses?
Was sind deine größten Schwächen?
What are your biggest weaknesses?
Cultural Tip
In German professional settings, it is expected to answer honestly but also to show how you are working on those weaknesses. Mentioning a weakness that can be framed as a strength (e.g., 'I am very detail‑oriented') is common, but avoid clichés like 'I work too hard'.