German Phrase
Wofür stehst du?
Meaning
Literally, ‘For what do you stand?’, this idiomatic question asks someone about the values, principles or purpose that guide them. It can be used to probe personal beliefs, political stance, or the mission behind a project.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversations when you want to know what motivates a friend, a colleague’s professional mission, or a political group’s core belief. It’s less common in very formal settings; there you might opt for ‘Was vertreten Sie?’ or ‘Wofür stehen Sie?’
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wofürstehstdu?
Wofür (interrogative)
‘Wofür’ combines ‘wo’ (where/what) with ‘für’ (for) and means ‘for what’ or ‘what … for’.
stehen + für (idiom)
The verb ‘stehen’ can be used figuratively with ‘für’ to ask about a person’s principles, purpose or what they represent.
Verb‑second (V2) word order
In a main clause the finite verb occupies the second position; the question word ‘Wofür’ is first, so the verb ‘stehst’ follows it.
2nd‑person singular conjugation
‘stehen’ → ‘du stehst’; the ending –st marks the informal ‘du’ form in present tense.
🗨In Conversation
Wofür stehst du?
What do you stand for?
Ich setze mich für Umweltschutz und soziale Gerechtigkeit ein.
I’m committed to environmental protection and social justice.
✕Common Mistakes
Für was stehst du?
‘Für was’ is colloquial and not standard German; the correct interrogative is ‘Wofür’.
Was stehst du für?
The word order is wrong; the verb must follow the question word: ‘Wofür stehst du?’.
Wofür stehst Sie?
When using the formal ‘Sie’, the verb must be conjugated accordingly: ‘Wofür stehen Sie?’.
↔Alternatives
Was vertrittst du?
What do you represent?
Wofür bist du?
What are you about?
Was ist dein Prinzip?
What is your principle?
Cultural Tip
German speakers appreciate directness, but the phrase can feel probing. In casual settings among friends it’s perfectly fine, while in a business meeting you might soften it with ‘Darf ich fragen, wofür Sie stehen?’ (May I ask what you stand for?). Regional dialects may replace ‘Wofür’ with ‘Für was’, which is considered colloquial and less standard.