This key facts covers The wer / wo trap within Question words: wer, was, wann, wo, warum, wie, wie viel, welche for GCSE German. Revise Question words: wer, was, wann, wo, warum, wie, wie viel, welche in Question Words and Role-Play Formulas for GCSE German with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 5 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚠️ The wer / wo trap
wer = WHO, wo = WHERE. English speakers mix these up because wo looks like 'who'. Remember: wo = where (both have a 'w…o', but wo is the shorter word).
Annotated examples
Wo wohnst du und wie alt bist du?
Where do you live and how old are you?
- Wo = where → place answer; the verb wohnst stays in second position (V2)
- wie alt = how old → ask with wie + adjective
Warum lernst du Deutsch und wie lange machst du das schon?
Why are you learning German and how long have you been doing it?
- Two W-questions joined together — each verb (lernst, machst) stays in V2
- Warum = why → reason answer; wie lange = how long → duration answer
- schon = already (NOT schön, which means 'beautiful') — watch the spelling
Practice questions for Question words: wer, was, wann, wo, warum, wie, wie viel, welche
What does 'wer' mean in English?
What does 'wo' mean in English?