Meaning of “wünsch dir was”












6














There is a song called Wünsch dir was. Online translation says it means make a wish.



I am not yet sure how to interpret it. Is it something like "I wish you something"? Why is "dir" there?






meaning german-to-english







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  • 3




    Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
    – henning
    14 hours ago






  • 3




    Wish yourself something = make a wish.
    – Rudy Velthuis
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
    – mathreadler
    5 hours ago










  • Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
    – Camp bell
    5 hours ago
















6














There is a song called Wünsch dir was. Online translation says it means make a wish.



I am not yet sure how to interpret it. Is it something like "I wish you something"? Why is "dir" there?






meaning german-to-english







share|improve this question









New contributor




nmd_07 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 3




    Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
    – henning
    14 hours ago






  • 3




    Wish yourself something = make a wish.
    – Rudy Velthuis
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
    – mathreadler
    5 hours ago










  • Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
    – Camp bell
    5 hours ago














6












6








6







There is a song called Wünsch dir was. Online translation says it means make a wish.



I am not yet sure how to interpret it. Is it something like "I wish you something"? Why is "dir" there?






meaning german-to-english







share|improve this question









New contributor




nmd_07 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











There is a song called Wünsch dir was. Online translation says it means make a wish.



I am not yet sure how to interpret it. Is it something like "I wish you something"? Why is "dir" there?






meaning german-to-english




meaning german-to-english






share|improve this question









New contributor




nmd_07 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




nmd_07 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 20 mins ago









unor

2,0701233




2,0701233






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asked 17 hours ago









nmd_07

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nmd_07 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






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Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 3




    Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
    – henning
    14 hours ago






  • 3




    Wish yourself something = make a wish.
    – Rudy Velthuis
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
    – mathreadler
    5 hours ago










  • Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
    – Camp bell
    5 hours ago














  • 3




    Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
    – henning
    14 hours ago






  • 3




    Wish yourself something = make a wish.
    – Rudy Velthuis
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
    – mathreadler
    5 hours ago










  • Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
    – Camp bell
    5 hours ago








3




3




Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
– henning
14 hours ago




Perhaps you're referring to this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCnsch_DIR_was The German Wikipedia entry says that the song's author intended the meaning to be ironic.
– henning
14 hours ago




3




3




Wish yourself something = make a wish.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago




Wish yourself something = make a wish.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago




1




1




It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
– mathreadler
5 hours ago




It becomes indirect object or dative object. "dir" is dative form of "du". So it is either an encouragement for someone to wish something for themselves, or if someone left out an "ich" at the start and swallowed an e in "wünsch(e)" it could be "I wish something for you"
– mathreadler
5 hours ago












Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
– Camp bell
5 hours ago




Because wünsche is reflexive in this case, I feel that "Wish something for yourself" is a translation that is much closer to the actual meaning. For instance, if you were to ask a child what they 'wish for' themselves for Christmas, you would ask "Was wünschst du dir denn zu Weihnachten?" Note that you use the personal pronoun "du" as well as the reflexive pronoun "dir". Therefore the wish is very much for something for them, not just a wish in general.
– Camp bell
5 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















14















Is it something like I wish you something?




No, it means that one should wish something for oneself.
I think the translation make a wish is a pretty good fit.




Why is dir there?




Wünschen is in this sentence a reflexive verb: sich etwas wünschen - that's where the dir originates from.




Du wünschst dir etwas.




Now this sentence is a demand, so the imperative form wünsch(e) has to be used:




Wünsch dir (et)was!




Information about the conjugation of the verb can be found on several websites, for example the duden.






share|improve this answer



















  • 3




    As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
    – Axel
    11 hours ago










  • @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
    – harper
    8 hours ago










  • So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
    – BruceWayne
    4 hours ago



















4















Is it something like I wish you something?




If the person is speaking in a sloppy way, it might be a shortened form of "(Ich) wünsch(e) Dir (et)was", which is a colloquial version of good bye, leaving out (or swallowing) the "ich" = (I) wish you something.

But without context (I don't know the song) one would normally assume the meaning mentioned in the first answer.






share|improve this answer





















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    14















    Is it something like I wish you something?




    No, it means that one should wish something for oneself.
    I think the translation make a wish is a pretty good fit.




    Why is dir there?




    Wünschen is in this sentence a reflexive verb: sich etwas wünschen - that's where the dir originates from.




    Du wünschst dir etwas.




    Now this sentence is a demand, so the imperative form wünsch(e) has to be used:




    Wünsch dir (et)was!




    Information about the conjugation of the verb can be found on several websites, for example the duden.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 3




      As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
      – Axel
      11 hours ago










    • @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
      – harper
      8 hours ago










    • So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
      – BruceWayne
      4 hours ago
















    14















    Is it something like I wish you something?




    No, it means that one should wish something for oneself.
    I think the translation make a wish is a pretty good fit.




    Why is dir there?




    Wünschen is in this sentence a reflexive verb: sich etwas wünschen - that's where the dir originates from.




    Du wünschst dir etwas.




    Now this sentence is a demand, so the imperative form wünsch(e) has to be used:




    Wünsch dir (et)was!




    Information about the conjugation of the verb can be found on several websites, for example the duden.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 3




      As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
      – Axel
      11 hours ago










    • @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
      – harper
      8 hours ago










    • So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
      – BruceWayne
      4 hours ago














    14












    14








    14







    Is it something like I wish you something?




    No, it means that one should wish something for oneself.
    I think the translation make a wish is a pretty good fit.




    Why is dir there?




    Wünschen is in this sentence a reflexive verb: sich etwas wünschen - that's where the dir originates from.




    Du wünschst dir etwas.




    Now this sentence is a demand, so the imperative form wünsch(e) has to be used:




    Wünsch dir (et)was!




    Information about the conjugation of the verb can be found on several websites, for example the duden.






    share|improve this answer















    Is it something like I wish you something?




    No, it means that one should wish something for oneself.
    I think the translation make a wish is a pretty good fit.




    Why is dir there?




    Wünschen is in this sentence a reflexive verb: sich etwas wünschen - that's where the dir originates from.




    Du wünschst dir etwas.




    Now this sentence is a demand, so the imperative form wünsch(e) has to be used:




    Wünsch dir (et)was!




    Information about the conjugation of the verb can be found on several websites, for example the duden.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 12 hours ago

























    answered 16 hours ago









    SomeWindowsUser

    1,0701417




    1,0701417








    • 3




      As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
      – Axel
      11 hours ago










    • @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
      – harper
      8 hours ago










    • So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
      – BruceWayne
      4 hours ago














    • 3




      As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
      – Axel
      11 hours ago










    • @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
      – harper
      8 hours ago










    • So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
      – BruceWayne
      4 hours ago








    3




    3




    As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
    – Axel
    11 hours ago




    As a side note Wünsch dir was is also sometimes used as Wir sind hier nicht bei Wünsch-dir-was meaning you need to stop demanding more, similarly to the word Wunschkonzert.
    – Axel
    11 hours ago












    @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
    – harper
    8 hours ago




    @Axel My first that was this "Wünsch-dir-was" phrase too. But the question was actually about a (not further specified) song. So the Wunschkonzert doesn't fit here.
    – harper
    8 hours ago












    So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
    – BruceWayne
    4 hours ago




    So, to be literal, it's basically saying Wish yourself something!
    – BruceWayne
    4 hours ago











    4















    Is it something like I wish you something?




    If the person is speaking in a sloppy way, it might be a shortened form of "(Ich) wünsch(e) Dir (et)was", which is a colloquial version of good bye, leaving out (or swallowing) the "ich" = (I) wish you something.

    But without context (I don't know the song) one would normally assume the meaning mentioned in the first answer.






    share|improve this answer


























      4















      Is it something like I wish you something?




      If the person is speaking in a sloppy way, it might be a shortened form of "(Ich) wünsch(e) Dir (et)was", which is a colloquial version of good bye, leaving out (or swallowing) the "ich" = (I) wish you something.

      But without context (I don't know the song) one would normally assume the meaning mentioned in the first answer.






      share|improve this answer
























        4












        4








        4







        Is it something like I wish you something?




        If the person is speaking in a sloppy way, it might be a shortened form of "(Ich) wünsch(e) Dir (et)was", which is a colloquial version of good bye, leaving out (or swallowing) the "ich" = (I) wish you something.

        But without context (I don't know the song) one would normally assume the meaning mentioned in the first answer.






        share|improve this answer













        Is it something like I wish you something?




        If the person is speaking in a sloppy way, it might be a shortened form of "(Ich) wünsch(e) Dir (et)was", which is a colloquial version of good bye, leaving out (or swallowing) the "ich" = (I) wish you something.

        But without context (I don't know the song) one would normally assume the meaning mentioned in the first answer.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 13 hours ago









        Volker Landgraf

        1,588118




        1,588118






















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