German Phrase
Wie weit ist der Park von dieser Statue weg?
Meaning
This phrase is used to inquire about the distance between two specific points. It literally translates to "How far is the park from this statue away?". The inclusion of "weg" at the end is common in spoken German to emphasize the "away" aspect of the distance, making the question sound more natural and complete.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when you are in a specific location, such as standing next to a landmark like a statue, and you want to know the walking or driving distance to another destination, like a park. It's a practical question for navigating unfamiliar areas, planning your route, or simply understanding the proximity of places.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wie weitistder Parkvondieser Statueweg?
Wie weit
This interrogative phrase directly translates to "How far?" and is the standard way to ask about distance in German. It always initiates a question about physical separation.
ist
This is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb "sein" (to be), agreeing with the subject "der Park". In German questions, the conjugated verb typically follows the interrogative phrase.
der Park
"Der" is the masculine definite article in the nominative case, used here because "Park" is a masculine noun acting as the subject of the sentence.
von
"Von" is a dative preposition meaning "from" or "of". It indicates the origin or reference point from which the distance is measured.
dieser Statue
"Dieser" is the dative form of the demonstrative pronoun "diese" (this) for feminine nouns, agreeing with "Statue" (feminine) which is in the dative case after the preposition "von".
weg
This adverb means "away" and is often used at the end of a sentence with "wie weit" to emphasize the "away" aspect of the distance, making the question sound more complete and natural.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigen Sie, wie weit ist der Park von dieser Statue weg?
Excuse me, how far is the park from this statue?
Der Park ist etwa zehn Minuten zu Fuß von hier.
The park is about ten minutes on foot from here.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie weit ist der Park von dieser Statue?
While understandable, omitting "weg" makes the question sound less natural for asking about physical distance in spoken German. "Weg" emphasizes the "away" aspect.
Wie weit ist der Park zu dieser Statue weg?
The preposition "von" (from) is required when indicating the starting point or reference for the distance, not "zu" (to).
Wie weit der Park ist von dieser Statue weg?
In a question starting with an interrogative word like "Wie weit", the conjugated verb ("ist") must immediately follow the interrogative phrase.
↔Alternatives
Wie weit ist es bis zum Park von hier?
How far is it to the park from here?
Ist der Park weit von hier entfernt?
Is the park far from here?
Welche Entfernung ist es zum Park?
What is the distance to the park?
Cultural Tip
When asking for directions or distances in Germany, it's always polite to start with "Entschuldigen Sie bitte..." (Excuse me, please...). Germans value directness and precision, so don't be surprised if the answer includes specific times (e.g., "zehn Minuten zu Fuß") or even detailed instructions. Public transportation is highly efficient, so knowing distances can help you decide whether to walk, take a bus, or use the U-Bahn/S-Bahn.