German word

wodurch

Pronunciation

IPA/voˈdʊʁç/

Meaning

  • adverbhow

Example

Ich weiß nicht, wodurch das passiert ist.

I don't know how that happened.

Illustration for wodurch (how)

More examples

Der Bericht erklärt, wodurch die Preise gestiegen sind.

The report explains what caused prices to rise.

Core concept

A question aimed at the channel or trigger that leads to an event.

Common phrases

  • wodurch das Problem entstanden ist

    what caused the problem to arise

  • wodurch die Preise gestiegen sind

    what caused prices to rise

  • wodurch ein Fehler aufgetreten ist

    what caused an error to occur

Similar words

warum: Seeks the reason behind an event or action.
wie: Seeks the method used to do something.
womit: Seeks the particular instrument or means used.
wozu: Seeks the goal or intended purpose of an action.

Definition in German

Es fragt danach, durch welche Sache oder Handlung etwas passiert.

Word origin

The adverb wodurch is formed from wo- and durch ('through, by'), with the combination asking what channel, means, or cause produces an event.

Usage tips

  • In an indirect question, wodurch begins a subordinate clause whose finite verb comes at the end, as in wodurch das passiert ist.

Other meanings

  • what caused ___adverb

Word lists with this word