was dachtest du denn

what did you think?

→ was

phrase Rare #38,637

what did you think? Denn adds emphasis or surprise; depending on context, the question can sound like “what did you think, then?” or “what on earth did you think?”

GE: Was dachtest du denn, was passieren würde?

EN: What did you think was going to happen?

Was dachtest du denn, was passieren würde?

What did you think would happen?

Was dachtest du denn, dass es sei?

What did you think it was?

Was dachtest du denn?!

What were you thinking?!

— Alles über meine Mutter (1999)

Was dachtest du denn, was das ist?

What did you think it was, then?

— Soul Kitchen (2009)

Was dachtest du denn?

What did you think?

— Ponyo - Das große Abenteuer am Meer (2008)

Was dachtest du denn, dass geschehen sei?

What did you think happened?