woran
what ... about
Question word meaning “about which thing” or “by which feature”; it asks about the object or context to which something refers.
EXAMPLE
Woran denkst du gerade?
What are you thinking about right now?
woran
what ... about / what ... to
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Meanings
woran
what ... about
Relative pronominal adverb meaning “about which,” “to which,” or “by which feature.” It introduces a relative clause and usually refers to a thing or a situation.
EXAMPLE
Das ist genau das, woran ich gerade gedacht habe.
That is exactly what I was thinking about just now.
Usage tips
Word formation
“Woran” consists of “wo-” and the preposition “an” (at/to). An “r” is inserted between the two parts because “an” begins with a vowel.
EXAMPLE
Woran hängt das Bild?
What is the picture hanging from?
Combinations with verbs
Learn “woran” together with expressions that contain “an”: “an etwas denken” (to think about something), “sich an etwas erinnern” (to remember something), “an etwas arbeiten” (to work on something), and “etwas an etwas erkennen” (to recognize something by something). “Woran” takes over the connection with “an” in the sentence; the preposition is not mentioned separately.
EXAMPLE
Woran arbeitet ihr im Moment?
What are you working on at the moment?
Direct and indirect questions
In a direct question, the conjugated verb comes immediately after “woran.” In an indirect question, “woran” introduces a subordinate clause, and the conjugated verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Woran erinnerst du dich besonders gern?
What do you remember most fondly?
Ich möchte wissen, woran du dich besonders gern erinnerst.
I would like to know what you remember most fondly.
Introducing a relative clause
A relative clause with “woran” often follows “etwas” (something), “nichts” (nothing), “alles” (everything), or “das” (that). A comma comes before “woran,” and the conjugated verb comes at the end of the relative clause.
EXAMPLE
Gibt es etwas, woran du dich besonders gut erinnerst?
Is there something you remember particularly well?
In real life
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