German Phrase
Wann haben die auf?
Meaning
Literally 'When do they have open?', this colloquial German question asks for the opening time of something—usually shops, restaurants, or other businesses that have been mentioned earlier in the conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal spoken German when you want to know the opening hours of a place that both speakers already know, such as a bakery, a store, or a museum.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wannhabendieauf
Wann (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask about time; placed at the beginning of a question.
haben + auf (colloquial construction)
In informal German, 'haben ... auf' means 'to be open' (e.g., 'die Bäckerei hat auf').
die (plural definite article)
Refers to a plural noun that is understood from context, often shops or places.
auf (separable particle)
In this idiom it stays at the end of the clause and signals the state of being open.
🗨In Conversation
Hey, wir wollen heute zum Markt gehen. Wann haben die auf?
Hey, we want to go to the market today. When do they open?
Die haben um 8 Uhr auf, also wir sollten früh losfahren.
They open at 8 a.m., so we should leave early.
✕Common Mistakes
Wann sind die auf?
Learners often replace it with 'sind' (e.g., 'Wann sind die auf?'), which is not idiomatic.
Wann haben die Bäckerei auf?
If the noun is not clear, use the specific noun (e.g., 'die Bäckerei') to avoid ambiguity.
Wann haben auf die?
Do not place 'auf' before the verb; the particle stays at the end in this idiom.
↔Alternatives
Wann öffnen sie?
When do they open?
Um wie viel Uhr haben die geöffnet?
At what time are they open?
Ab wann sind die geöffnet?
From when are they open?
Cultural Tip
The construction 'haben ... auf' is typical of everyday spoken German, especially in the north. In formal writing you would use 'geöffnet haben' or simply 'öffnen'. Also, remember that 'die' must refer to a plural noun that is clear from context; otherwise the sentence sounds vague.