German Phrase
Wann geht's los?
Meaning
Literally 'When does it go off?', the idiomatic meaning is 'When does it start?' or 'When does it begin?'. It is used for events, movies, meetings, or any activity that has a scheduled start.
When to use
Use this informal phrase with friends, classmates, or colleagues in casual settings. It’s perfect for asking about the start time of a party, a class, a concert, or even a TV show. In formal contexts you might prefer 'Um wie viel Uhr fängt es an?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wanngeht'slos?
Wann
Interrogative adverb meaning 'when'. It asks about time and does not change form.
geht's
Contraction of 'geht es'. The verb 'gehen' is used impersonally here, similar to English 'does it go/start'.
los
Separable particle of the verb 'losgehen' (to start, to set off). In questions it stays at the end.
?
Question mark signals a direct question; in spoken German the intonation rises.
🗨In Conversation
Wann geht's los mit dem Film?
When does the movie start?
Um 20 Uhr. Wir sollten uns vorher noch einen Platz sichern.
At 8 p.m. We should get a seat beforehand.
✕Common Mistakes
Wann geht los?
Missing the dummy subject 'es' (or its contraction) makes the sentence sound incomplete.
Wann geht es los?
Grammatically correct but less colloquial; learners often over‑formalize in casual settings.
Wann geht's losen?
‘Losen’ is a different verb meaning ‘to loosen’; the correct particle is the separable ‘los’.
↔Alternatives
Um wie viel Uhr fängt es an?
At what time does it begin?
Wann beginnt es?
When does it begin?
Wann startet es?
When does it start?
Cultural Tip
The contraction 'geht's' is typical of spoken German and appears often in everyday conversation, TV, and movies. The verb 'losgehen' is separable, so the particle 'los' moves to the end in main clauses and questions. In northern Germany you’ll also hear 'wann geht’s los?' with a slightly shorter vowel in 'geht'. Remember that in very formal writing you should avoid the contraction and use the full form 'geht es los?'.