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Was für ein …?

B2

Was für ein Tag! Was für ein Auto möchtest du? With was für (ein) you ask about type and quality or express surprise – useful in conversation and exclamations.

  • 'was für (ein)' constructions

Grammar → Was für ein …?

Explanation

With Was für ein …? you ask about the type or quality of something — not about quantity: Was für ein Auto fährst du? (what kind of car).

The für here is not a preposition and does not govern case. The ein- agrees with the gender and case of the noun: Was für einen Wagen suchst du? (masculine, accusative) Was für eine Frau ist das? (feminine, nominative) Was für ein Auto fährst du? (neuter, accusative).

In the plural and with uncountable nouns, ein- is dropped: Was für Bücher liest du? Was für Musik hörst du?

Was für ein …! is also used in exclamations — for surprise, joy, or annoyance: Was für ein Glück! Was für eine Überraschung! Was für ein Tag!

UseGender / numberExample
FrageMasculine (accusative)Was für einen Wagen suchst du?
FrageNeuter (accusative)Was für ein Auto fährst du?
FrageFeminine (nominative)Was für eine Frau ist das?
Frageplural (no ein-)Was für Bücher liest du?
AusrufNeuterWas für ein Glück!
AusrufFeminineWas für eine Überraschung!

Find words

Which form of ein-?

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