fragen vs sich erkundigen
German word comparison
Listen to fragen
Listen to sich erkundigen
| fragen | sich erkundigen |
|---|---|
FRAH-gen verb | sikh air-KOON-di-gen verb |
| to ask (a question); to inquire | to make inquiries; to seek information, often by asking around or consulting someone |
How they differ
Sich erkundigen focuses on actively seeking information, often by contacting a source or checking multiple places; fragen is a direct act of asking a question to someone. 'Sich erkundigen' often implies a bit more effort or formality and is typically used reflexively (one inquires oneself).
When to use each
When to use fragen: Use fragen when you want to directly pose a question to someone in everyday conversation.
When to use sich erkundigen: Use sich erkundigen when you want to find out information by making inquiries (often at offices, info desks, or through research) or when sounding polite/formal.
Side-by-side examples
- Er fragte den Polizisten nach dem Weg.
(He asked the policeman for directions.) - Sie hat sich beim Bahnhofsschalter nach den Zugverbindungen erkundigt.
(She inquired at the station desk about the train connections.)
Register & nuance: Neutral to slightly more formal than fragen; common in polite speech and both spoken and written German when describing the act of making inquiries.