fragen vs nachfragen
German word comparison
Listen to fragen
Listen to nachfragen
| fragen | nachfragen |
|---|---|
FRAH-gen verb | NAHKH-frah-gen verb |
| to ask (a question); to inquire | to ask again or to ask for clarification; to follow up on a previous question |
How they differ
Nachfragen emphasizes a follow-up or clarification after an initial exchange — it often implies that the first answer was incomplete or unclear; fragen is a neutral, one-off act of asking. Nachfragen can also mean 'to check back' while fragen does not carry that follow-up nuance.
When to use each
When to use fragen: Use fragen for a simple, direct question or when introducing a new question.
When to use nachfragen: Use nachfragen when you need to request clarification, repeat the question, or follow up on missing information.
Side-by-side examples
- Ich möchte dich etwas fragen.
(I would like to ask you something.) - Die Teilnehmer haben nach dem Vortrag noch einmal nachgefragt.
(The participants asked again after the lecture.)
Register & nuance: Neutral and common in spoken and written German; 'nachfragen' is pragmatically focused (clarification/follow-up) rather than stylistically formal.