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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/de-wie-bitte

You did not hear someone. How do you say 'Pardon?' in German?

Wie bitte? means pardon or come again.

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  1. Wie geht's?
  2. Wie bitte? ✔
  3. Wie viel?

Why: Wie bitte? asks someone to repeat what they said. Wie geht's? means how are you, and Wie viel? means how much.

Huh, didn't know that: Wiktionary says the phrase can also be used when you refuse to accept something you did hear.

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Knock knock. Who's there? Yukon. Yukon who? Yukon say that again!
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References

Answer: Wie bitte?. Wie bitte? asks someone to repeat what they said. Wie geht's? means how are you, and Wie viel? means how much.

  1. Wiktionary: wie bitte en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wie_bitte
    wie bitte? sorry?, pardon?, come again?, excuse me?, I beg your pardon?
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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