wie

Wie is a German word that commonly translates to "how" in English. It serves several grammatical functions, including as an interrogative adverb, a relative conjunction, and in fixed phrases that express manner or degree. It can introduce questions, describe the way something is done, or link clauses in indirect speech.

Interrogative use: In direct questions, wie asks about manner or degree. Examples: Wie geht es dir? Wie viel kostet das? Wie lange dauert der Film? Wie oft trainierst du pro Woche? In exclamations: Wie schön ist das! In comparisons: Sie sieht aus wie eine Diva. In phrases such as wie + adjective, it can intensify the expression, for example: Wie groß du bist!

Conjunction and relative use: As a subordinating conjunction, wie introduces indirect questions and content clauses: Ich weiß nicht, wie er das gemacht hat. Wir erfahren, wie er das Problem lösen will. Wie can also function in relative clauses that express manner or resemblance: Das ist, wie ich es beschrieben habe.

Notes: In German, wie is normally written in lowercase, except when it begins a sentence, in which case the first word is capitalized as usual. It is a common and versatile element of everyday language, appearing in questions, comparisons, exclamations, and subordinate clauses across formal and informal contexts.