German Phrase
Was heißt 'Bandbreite'?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the definition of the German word 'Bandbreite'. It is a typical way to request the meaning of a technical term or any unfamiliar word.
When to use
Use this phrase when you encounter a word you don’t know—especially in technical, scientific, or media‑related contexts—and you want a clear, concise definition from a native speaker or a dictionary.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Washeißt'Bandbreite'?
Was
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', used to ask for information.
heißt
Third‑person singular present of the verb heißen, used to ask for the meaning or name of something.
Bandbreite
A compound noun (Band + Breite) meaning 'bandwidth' in technical contexts; also used metaphorically for a range.
Question mark
Marks the sentence as a direct question.
🗨In Conversation
Was heißt 'Bandbreite'?
What does 'bandwidth' mean?
Bandbreite ist die Datenmenge, die pro Zeiteinheit übertragen werden kann.
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred per unit of time.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie heißt 'Bandbreite'?
‘Wie heißt…’ asks for the name of something, not its meaning; use ‘Was heißt…’ or ‘Was bedeutet…’ for definitions.
Was heißt Bandbreite?
Leaving out the quotation marks can make the sentence sound like you’re asking about a person’s name rather than a word.
↔Alternatives
Was bedeutet 'Bandbreite'?
What does 'bandwidth' mean?
Wie lautet die Definition von 'Bandbreite'?
What is the definition of 'bandwidth'?
Könntest du mir 'Bandbreite' erklären?
Could you explain 'bandwidth' to me?
Cultural Tip
In German, 'Bandbreite' is most often heard in IT and telecommunications, but it is also used figuratively, e.g., 'Eine große Bandbreite an Möglichkeiten' (a wide range of possibilities). When asking for a definition, 'heißt' is preferred over 'ist' because it directly signals a request for meaning rather than a statement of fact.