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German Phrase

Kannst du mal nachsehen, wie es mit meinem Ticket aussieht?

/ˌkanst duː mal ˈnaːxˌzeːən viː ɛs mɪt ˈmaɪ̯nəm ˈtɪkət ˈaʊ̯sˌziːt/
Meaning"Could you check on my ticket?"
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Meaning

This phrase is a polite and common way to inquire about the status or progress of something, specifically a "ticket" in this context. "Nachsehen" means to look up or check, and "wie es aussieht" translates to "how it looks" or "what the situation is." The particle "mal" softens the request, making it sound more casual and less demanding.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are waiting for an update on a specific item, such as a concert ticket, a flight reservation, a support ticket, or an application. It's suitable for politely asking customer service, a colleague, or a friend to check on the status for you.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Kannst dumalnachsehenwie esmit meinem Ticketaussieht

1

Kannst du...

This is the informal way to ask "Can you...?" when addressing one person. For a formal request, use "Können Sie...?"

2

mal

This is a modal particle that softens requests, making them sound more casual and less demanding. It doesn't have a direct English translation but implies "just" or "quickly."

3

nachsehen

A separable verb meaning "to look up," "to check," or "to verify the status of something." The prefix "nach-" separates from the verb stem in main clauses.

4

wie es aussieht

This common phrase translates to "how it looks" or "what the status is." "Aussieht" is the conjugated form of the separable verb "aussehen" (to look like).

5

Subordinate Clause Word Order

In clauses introduced by conjunctions like "wie" (how), the conjugated verb ("aussieht") moves to the very end of the clause.

🗨In Conversation

A

Kannst du mal nachsehen, wie es mit meinem Ticket aussieht?

Could you check on my ticket?

Ja, klar. Ich schaue sofort nach.

Yes, sure. I'll check right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Kannst du mein Ticket prüfen?

    While "prüfen" means "to check," "nachsehen" is more natural for checking the status or looking something up. "Prüfen" often implies a more thorough examination or testing.

  • Kannst du nachsehen, wie mein Ticket aussieht?

    The impersonal "es" is often used with "wie es aussieht" to refer to the general situation or status, even when a specific item is mentioned.

  • Kannst du mal nachsehen, wie aussieht es mit meinem Ticket?

    In a subordinate clause introduced by "wie," the conjugated verb ("aussieht") must go to the very end of the clause.

↔Alternatives

  • Könntest du bitte den Status meines Tickets überprüfen?

    Could you please check the status of my ticket?

  • Hast du schon Neuigkeiten zu meinem Ticket?

    Do you have any news about my ticket yet?

  • Kannst du mal schauen, was mit meinem Ticket ist?

    Could you take a look at what's up with my ticket?

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Cultural Tip

Germans value clear communication, but politeness is also important. The use of "mal" in requests like "Kannst du mal..." is very common and softens the tone, making it less abrupt than a direct command. While direct, it's not impolite in informal or semi-formal contexts. For very formal situations, "Könnten Sie bitte..." would be more appropriate.