German Phrase
Was soll ich anziehen?
Meaning
Literally, ‘What should I put on?’, i.e., ‘What should I wear?’ It is used when you want advice about clothing for a specific occasion, weather, or dress code.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re unsure about the appropriate outfit—before a party, a job interview, a cultural event, or simply when the weather is unpredictable. It’s a polite way to ask friends, family, or colleagues for their opinion.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wassollichanziehen?
Was (question word)
‘Was’ asks for a thing or an action; it is the equivalent of English ‘what’. It always starts a yes‑no or wh‑question.
soll (modal verb)
‘sollen’ expresses advice, recommendation or expectation. In the present tense it is conjugated as ‘soll’ for ‘ich/er/sie/es’.
ich (subject pronoun)
The personal pronoun ‘ich’ is the subject and must stay before the modal verb in a main clause.
anziehen (infinitive verb)
With a modal verb the infinitive goes to the end of the clause. ‘anziehen’ means ‘to put on (clothes)’. The prefix ‘an‑’ is separable in other contexts, but stays attached in the infinitive.
Verb‑final word order
In a main clause with a modal verb, the finite verb (soll) is in second position, and the infinitive (anziehen) occupies the final position.
🗨In Conversation
Was soll ich anziehen?
What should I wear?
Für das Konzert ist ein lässiges T‑Shirt und Jeans okay, aber bring eine Jacke mit, es wird kühl.
For the concert a casual T‑shirt and jeans are fine, but bring a jacket, it will get chilly.
✕Common Mistakes
Was muss ich anziehen?
‘muss’ means ‘must’, which sounds too strong; use ‘soll’ for advice or recommendation.
Was soll anziehen ich?
The infinitive must stay at the end of the clause after the modal verb.
Was soll ich anziehe?
‘anziehe’ is a conjugated form; after a modal verb you need the bare infinitive ‘anziehen’.
↔Alternatives
Was soll ich tragen?
What should I wear?
Was darf ich anziehen?
What am I allowed to wear?
Was wäre passend?
What would be appropriate?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries the dress code can be quite situation‑specific. For business meetings, a ‘Business‑Casual’ look (e.g., a button‑down shirt and slacks) is expected, while many social events are more relaxed. When you’re unsure, it’s common to ask a friend or host for guidance—just as you would with ‘Was soll ich anziehen?’. Also note that Germans tend to value practicality; mentioning the weather (e.g., ‘es wird kühl’) in your answer is typical.