German Phrase
Was machst du so?
Meaning
Literally 'What do you do like that?', this idiomatic phrase is used to ask someone casually what they are up to or what they are doing at the moment.
When to use
Use it in informal settings with friends, classmates, or colleagues you know well. It’s a friendly way to start small‑talk or check in on someone's current activity.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wasmachstduso?
Was (question word)
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', used to start a question.
machst (2nd person singular of machen)
Present tense of the verb 'machen' (to do/make) conjugated for 'du'.
du (personal pronoun)
Informal singular 'you', placed after the verb in German questions.
so (adverb)
Colloquial adverb meaning 'like that' or 'up to', adds a casual tone.
🗨In Conversation
Hey, ich habe dich hier noch nie gesehen. Was machst du so?
Hey, I haven’t seen you here before. What are you up to?
Ich warte gerade auf den Bus und lese ein Buch.
I’m just waiting for the bus and reading a book.
✕Common Mistakes
Was machen Sie so?
‘Sie’ is the formal ‘you’; using it changes the register and sounds too stiff for this casual phrase.
Was machst du?
Without ‘so’ the sentence loses the colloquial nuance of asking what someone is up to.
Was machst du so jetzt?
Adding ‘jetzt’ is redundant; ‘so’ already implies the present moment.
↔Alternatives
Was treibst du so?
What are you up to?
Was machst du gerade?
What are you doing right now?
Was hast du vor?
What are your plans?
Cultural Tip
The word 'so' adds a relaxed, slightly playful nuance. In formal situations or with strangers, stick to 'Was machst du gerade?' or 'Was tun Sie?' to avoid sounding too familiar.