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German Phrase

Ist das weit weg?

/ɪst das vaɪt veːk/
Meaning"Is that far away?"
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Meaning

Literally ‘Is that far away?’, this sentence asks whether a place, object or route is at a considerable distance from the speaker. It can be used for anything from a shop down the street to a city that requires a train ride.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are unsure about the distance to a location you’re planning to go to, or when you want to confirm a travel time with a local. It works in both casual and semi‑formal contexts.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Istdasweitweg?

1

Verb‑First Question

In German yes/no questions the finite verb (here *ist*) moves to the first position, followed by the subject.

2

Demonstrative Pronoun *das*

*das* refers to a neuter noun or a situation previously mentioned; it functions as the subject of *sein*.

3

Adjective *weit*

*weit* means ‘far’ and is used predicatively after *sein* without any ending.

4

Adverb *weg*

*weg* adds the sense of ‘away’ or ‘at a distance’; together *weit weg* = ‘far away’.

5

Question Mark

The question mark is placed after the whole clause; the word order stays verb‑first.

🗨In Conversation

A

Entschuldigung, ist das Museum weit weg?

Excuse me, is the museum far away?

Ja, es ist etwa 15 Minuten zu Fuß, aber mit der U‑Bahn kommt man schneller.

Yes, it’s about a 15‑minute walk, but you can get there faster by subway.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ist das weit von hier?

    The preposition *von* is unnecessary because *weit weg* already implies distance from the speaker.

  • Ist das weit weges?

    Adjectives used predicatively after *sein* stay uninflected; do not add an ending.

  • Ist das weit weges hier?

    The word order is wrong; the question should start with the verb and the subject follows directly.

↔Alternatives

  • Wie weit ist das?

    How far is that?

  • Ist das in der Nähe?

    Is that nearby?

  • Ist das nicht weit?

    Isn’t that far?

de

Cultural Tip

Germans often give precise distances (in meters or minutes) rather than vague answers. If you’re asked *Ist das weit weg?* you’ll usually get a concrete number or a travel‑time estimate. In southern Germany you might also hear *ganz schön weit* (quite far) as a more colloquial nuance.