Every so often, I see someone use "denn" in a question, but I do not know why.
Some examples:
Was hörst du denn für Musik?
Was machst du denn?
What is the point of this, and what does it mean? (I know denn means because).
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Sign up to join this communityEvery so often, I see someone use "denn" in a question, but I do not know why.
Some examples:
Was hörst du denn für Musik?
Was machst du denn?
What is the point of this, and what does it mean? (I know denn means because).
In these examples, denn is an adverb (also most often called a modal particle) and is similar in meaning to the English then.
It can then be translated like this:
Then what music do you listen to? (denn =then)
Then what do you do? (denn = then)
Very good question. Since I didn't have a good explanation myself apart from Füllwort- expletive I found this: Link
So denn is a homonym which on the one hand can be a conjunction with a meaning of because, as you said.
On the other hand it is an adverbial modal particle, in German it has a special name Abtönungspartikel. This serves, I translate, to subtextually convey certain expectations or opinions of the speaker. It can give a statement or question a certain tinge.
A very common situation would be:
"Ich höre Jazz."
"Was? Echt?"
"Wieso, was hörst du denn für Musik?"
In this case the last question has the subtext of: Whatever you now say, your kind of musical taste is inferior.
But the Was hörst du denn für Musik? can also be neutral or inviting in a different context.