German Phrase
Überlege, mir was zu holen.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Consider getting something for me.’ It is a casual request asking the listener to think about picking up or bringing something on their way.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want a friend, colleague, or family member to remember to buy or fetch an item for you – for example, a snack, a document, or a small errand.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Überlege,mirwaszuholen.
Imperative (Überlege)
‘Überlege’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘überlegen’ (to consider). It’s used to give a direct but friendly command.
Dative pronoun (mir)
‘mir’ is the dative form of ‘ich’. In this construction the speaker is the indirect object – the person who will receive the thing.
Indefinite pronoun (was)
‘was’ means ‘something’ and works as the direct object of the infinitive ‘zu holen’.
Infinitive clause with zu
After verbs of thinking, planning or deciding (e.g., ‘überlegen’, ‘denken’, ‘vorhaben’) the infinitive is introduced with ‘zu’. The whole clause is set off by a comma.
Comma placement
German grammar requires a comma before an infinitive clause that is introduced by ‘zu’ when the clause depends on a verb like ‘überlegen’.
🗨In Conversation
Kannst du heute zum Supermarkt gehen?
Can you go to the supermarket today?
Überlege, mir was zu holen.
Consider getting something for me.
✕Common Mistakes
Überlege, ich was zu holen.
‘Ich’ is nominative; the sentence needs the dative ‘mir’ because the speaker is the indirect object.
Überlege, mir was holen.
The infinitive must be introduced by ‘zu’; omitting it makes the clause ungrammatical.
Überlegen, mir was zu holen.
In an imperative you need the conjugated form ‘Überlege’, not the infinitive ‘überlegen’.
Überlege mir was zu holen.
A comma is required before the infinitive clause when it depends on ‘überlegen’.
↔Alternatives
Denk dran, mir etwas zu holen.
Remember to get something for me.
Vergiss nicht, mir etwas zu besorgen.
Don’t forget to fetch something for me.
Könntest du mir etwas mitbringen?
Could you bring me something?
Cultural Tip
In German, the infinitive with ‘zu’ after verbs like ‘überlegen’ is very common in spoken language. The imperative form ‘Überlege’ sounds friendly but still direct, so it’s best used with people you know well. If you need a more polite request, you could add ‘bitte’ or use a conditional form (e.g., ‘Würdest du mir …?’).