German Phrase
Was sind deine Stärken?
Meaning
Literally, 'What are your strengths?'. The question asks a person to name the abilities or qualities they consider their strongest. It is a standard self‑presentation question in professional and academic settings.
When to use
Use this phrase in job interviews, performance‑review meetings, networking events, or any situation where you need to talk about your personal or professional competencies.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WassinddeineStärken?
Was (question word)
Used to ask 'what' in a neutral, open‑ended question.
sind (sein, 3rd person plural)
The present‑tense form of the verb 'to be' that agrees with the plural noun 'Stärken'.
deine (possessive pronoun)
Shows ownership; it matches the gender and number of the noun (feminine plural → 'deine').
Stärken (noun, plural)
Means 'strengths' or 'strong points'; always used in the plural when talking about several abilities.
🗨In Conversation
Was sind deine Stärken?
What are your strengths?
Ich bin sehr organisiert, arbeite strukturiert und habe ausgezeichnete Kommunikationsfähigkeiten.
I am very organized, work in a structured way, and have excellent communication skills.
✕Common Mistakes
Was sind deinen Stärken?
The possessive must agree with the feminine plural noun 'Stärken'; use 'deine', not the masculine accusative form 'deinen'.
Was ist deine Stärken?
The verb must be plural to match 'Stärken'. Use 'sind' instead of singular 'ist'.
Was sind deine Stärke?
When asking about multiple strengths, use the plural 'Stärken'. Singular would change the meaning to 'What is your strength?'.
↔Alternatives
Welche Stärken hast du?
Which strengths do you have?
Was kannst du besonders gut?
What are you especially good at?
Auf welche Fähigkeiten bist du besonders stolz?
Which abilities are you especially proud of?
Cultural Tip
In German business culture, modesty combined with concrete examples is valued. Rather than saying 'Ich bin der Beste', give specific evidence (e.g., 'Ich habe das Projekt X erfolgreich geleitet und dabei das Budget um 15 % gesenkt'). Avoid overly generic answers like 'Ich bin gut im Arbeiten' – the interviewer expects measurable strengths.