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German Phrase

Ich frag' mal nach, wie's weitergeht.

/ɪç fʁaːk maːl naːx viːz ˈvaɪ̯tɐɡeːt/
Meaning"I'll ask around to see how it goes."
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Meaning

Literally, 'I’ll ask around, how it continues.' It’s used when you intend to find out what will happen next, often in a work or project context. The phrase is informal and conveys a proactive, curious attitude.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to check the next steps in a plan, a project, or a social situation. It works well in casual conversations with colleagues, friends, or anyone you’re coordinating with.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichfrag'malnach,wie'sweitergeht.

1

Separable verb: nachfragen

The verb 'nachfragen' splits in main clause: 'frag ... nach'. The prefix 'nach' moves to the end.

2

Colloquial contraction

'frag'' is a spoken contraction of 'frage'. The apostrophe marks the omitted 'e'.

3

Particle 'mal'

'mal' softens a request, making it sound casual and friendly.

4

Indirect question with 'wie'

'wie' introduces an indirect question; the verb stays in normal position (verb‑final).

5

Contraction 'wie's'

'wie's' = 'wie es'; the apostrophe replaces the missing 'e' in spoken German.

6

Verb 'weitergehen'

'weitergehen' is a separable verb in its infinitive form; in the indirect question it appears as one word.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich frag' mal nach, wie's weitergeht.

I'll ask around to see how it goes.

Super, dann wissen wir bald, was als Nächstes zu tun ist.

Great, then we'll soon know what to do next.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich frag mal nach, wie's weitergeht.

    Missing the apostrophe; in spoken German the 'e' is dropped, so write 'frag'' to reflect the pronunciation.

  • Ich frag' mal nach, wie es weiter geht.

    In the indirect question the verb stays at the end as one word: 'weitergeht'.

  • Ich nachfrag' mal, wie's weitergeht.

    The correct order is 'frag ... nach' because 'nachfragen' is separable.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich erkundige mich, wie es weitergeht.

    I’ll inquire how it continues.

  • Ich schaue mal nach, was als Nächstes passiert.

    I'll see what happens next.

  • Ich frage nach, was als Nächstes ansteht.

    I’ll ask what’s coming up next.

de

Cultural Tip

In German, adding 'mal' to a request makes it sound less demanding and more friendly. The contraction 'wie's' is typical in spoken language but should be avoided in formal writing. When speaking to superiors, you might replace the colloquial 'frag'' with the full 'frage' and drop 'mal' for a more formal tone.