In Luxembourgish the word wéi has several meanings and different usages. The first phrases you learn in your learning journey are: Wéi geet et? or Wéi heeschs du?
In these examples Wéi is a question word and translates into How. But this is only one meaning of this word.
Let’s get started with:
Wéi – a question word
- Wéi laang ….?
- Wéi laang gees du gewéinlech lafen? – How long do you usually go running?
- Wéi oft …?
- Wéi oft gees du lafen? – How long do you go running?
- Wéi eng / Wéi een ……?
- Wéi eng Auer fënns du méi schéin? – Which watch do you think is more beautiful ?
- Wéi een Dessert wëlls du gär? – Which dessert would you like?
- Wéi vill ….?
- Wéi vill Auer ass et? – What time is it?
- Wéi vill kascht dat? – How much does this cost?
Wéi – used to compare things / persons
I often hear my students use the word dann when comparing things / persons. But that’s not the correct word. In Luxembourgish we use the term wéi:
- méi kleng wéi – smaller than
- méi séier wéi – faster than
- esou flott wéi – as beautiful as
Learn all about the comparative form in this lesson.
Beispiller (examples)
- Mäin neie Brëll ass grad esou schéin wéi deen alen. – My new glasses are as beautiful as the old ones
- Dëse Coiffer ass besser wéi deen a mengem Quartier. – This hairdresser is better than the one in my area
- Den Zuch fir op Bréissel ass manner bequeem wéi dee fir op Paräis – The train to Brussel is less comfortable than the one to Paris.
Wéi – instead of “wann” when expressing something in the past
- Wéi ech jonk war, sinn ech oft bei meng Boma an d’Vakanz gaang. – When I was young, I often went on vacation to my grand-mother.
- Wéi ech d’lescht Woch krank war, sinn ech doheem bliwwen. – When I was sick last week, I stayed at home.
Wéi – to express that you have a pain
- wéi – painful / sore
- Ass dat Äre wéien Zant?- Is that your painful tooth?
- wéi hunn – to have a pain
- Ech hunn oft de Kapp wéi. – I often have a headache.
- wéidoen – to hurt
- Wou deet et dir wéi? – Where does it hurt you?
- Mamma, de Pol huet mir wéigedoen . – Mum, Pol hurt me!
Wéi – other meanings
- Wéi kanns du nëmmen dat iessen. – How on earth can you eat this?
- Wéi kanns du dat soen? – How on earth can you say that?
- Du gleefs net, wéi gär ech Kéistaart iessen. – You can’t believe, how much (to what degree) I like to eat cheesecake.
Let’s practice:
Translate the following sentences into Luxembourgish:
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- My mother has almost every day headache.
- When we were on vacation, we had breakfast at 10 am.
- How many hours a week do you (form) learn Luxembourgish?
Check the solution by downloading the PDF and practice with MORE sentences to translate !
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