German Phrase
Wie warm ist's?
Meaning
A casual way to ask about the current temperature, equivalent to ‘How warm is it?’ in English. It’s typically used in informal conversation about the weather or indoor climate.
When to use
Use this phrase when chatting with friends, family, or colleagues in a relaxed setting. It’s perfect for small‑talk about the weather, checking if it’s comfortable to go outside, or deciding whether to turn on the heating or air‑conditioning.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wiewarmist's?
Wie (interrogative adverb)
‘Wie’ introduces a question about manner, degree, or quantity, similar to ‘how’ in English.
warm (predicative adjective)
When used after ‘sein’, ‘warm’ describes the temperature of the subject.
ist's (contraction of ist es)
In spoken German, ‘ist es’ often contracts to ‘ist’s’, dropping the vowel and linking the words.
🗨In Conversation
Wie warm ist's?
How warm is it?
Es ist etwa zwanzig Grad.
It’s about twenty degrees.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie warm ist du?
‘du’ is a personal pronoun; the verb ‘sein’ requires the dummy subject ‘es’ when talking about weather.
Wie warm ist das?
‘das’ can be used, but native speakers usually ask ‘Wie warm ist es?’ or the contracted ‘Wie warm ist’s?’ for weather.
Wie warm ist'ses?
Avoid adding extra syllables; the correct contraction is ‘ist’s’, not ‘ist'ses’.
↔Alternatives
Wie heiß ist es?
How hot is it?
Wie kalt ist es?
How cold is it?
Wie warm ist das Wetter?
How warm is the weather?
Cultural Tip
Talking about the weather is a staple of German small talk. The contracted form ‘ist’s’ is common in everyday speech, especially in northern Germany. In formal contexts—e.g., a business meeting or a written email—use the full form ‘Wie warm ist es?’ to sound more polished.