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German Phrase

Wann kommt's da an?

/van kɔmt͡s da an/
Meaning"When does it arrive there?"
💡

Meaning

This phrase is a common way to ask about the arrival time of something, often a package, a train, or a person. The 's in 'kommt's' is a contraction of 'es' (it), making the phrase more colloquial and natural-sounding.

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When to use

You would typically use this phrase when inquiring about the expected arrival time of an object or a person at a specific location. It's suitable for informal to semi-formal contexts, such as asking about a delivery, a friend's arrival, or a public transport connection.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Wannkommt'sdaan

1

Wann

'Wann' is an interrogative adverb meaning 'when'. It is used to ask about a point in time.

2

kommt's

This is a contraction of 'kommt es'. 'Kommt' is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'kommen' (to come/arrive). 'Es' is the neuter pronoun 'it'.

3

da

'Da' is an adverb meaning 'there' or 'here'. In this context, it refers to the place of arrival.

4

an

'An' is the separable prefix of the verb 'ankommen' (to arrive). In main clauses, the prefix separates from the verb and moves to the end of the sentence.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich habe ein Paket bestellt. Weißt du, wann kommt's da an?

I ordered a package. Do you know when it arrives there?

Laut Sendungsverfolgung sollte es morgen Nachmittag da sein.

According to the tracking, it should be there tomorrow afternoon.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wann kommt es da an?

    While grammatically correct, using the full 'es' instead of the contraction 's' makes the phrase sound less natural and more formal in spoken German.

  • Wann kommt es an da?

    The separable prefix 'an-' goes to the end of the sentence, and 'da' (there) usually precedes it or is placed earlier in the sentence.

  • Wann kommt es dort an?

    While 'dort' also means 'there', 'da' is more commonly used in this specific phrase for a general 'there' or 'at that place'.

↔Alternatives

  • Wann kommt es an?

    When does it arrive?

  • Wann ist die Ankunft?

    When is the arrival?

  • Um wie viel Uhr kommt es an?

    At what time does it arrive?

de

Cultural Tip

Germans tend to be quite direct in their communication, especially when asking for information. This phrase is perfectly polite and direct. When asking about public transport, punctuality is highly valued, so asking for precise arrival times is very common and expected.