German Phrase
Was erhoffst du dir?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone what they are hoping for or what they wish for. It is a casual, conversational way to inquire about a person's expectations or desires regarding a future event or situation.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know someone's hopes or expectations, for example after a job interview, before a sports match, or when planning a trip. It works well in informal settings among friends, family, or colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waserhoffstdudir
Verb‑Second (V2) Rule
In German main clauses, the finite verb occupies the second position. In a question, the interrogative word (Was) takes the first slot, pushing the verb to second.
Reflexive Pronoun "dir"
With "erhoffen" the reflexive pronoun indicates what the speaker hopes for for themselves; it follows the verb and matches the dative case.
Word Order in Questions
The order is: Interrogative – Verb – Subject – Reflexive pronoun. This differs from statements where the subject would come before the verb.
🗨In Conversation
Was erhoffst du dir von deinem neuen Job?
What do you hope for from your new job?
Ich erhoffe mir, dass ich schnell Verantwortung übernehmen kann.
I hope that I can quickly take on responsibility.
✕Common Mistakes
Was erhofft du dir?
The verb must be conjugated to match the second‑person singular (du) and placed before the subject in a question.
Was du erhoffst dir?
In a question the subject and reflexive pronoun are inverted: "erhoffst du dir" not "du erhoffst dir".
↔Alternatives
Worauf hoffst du?
What are you hoping for?
Was erwartest du dir?
What do you expect?
Was wünschst du dir?
What do you wish for?
Cultural Tip
In German, the reflexive pronoun "dir" is often used with verbs of expectation (erhoffen, wünschen, erwarten) to indicate what the speaker hopes for themselves. In more formal contexts you might drop the reflexive and say "Was erhoffen Sie?" when speaking to strangers or superiors.