German word

woran

Pronunciation

IPA/voˈʁan/

Meaning

  • adverbhow

Example

Woran erkennst du den Unterschied?

How can you tell the difference?

Illustration for woran (how)

More examples

Woran liegt das Problem?

What does the problem stem from?

Core concept

A particular feature used as the basis for recognizing or identifying something.

Common phrases

  • Woran denken

    what to think about

  • Woran arbeiten

    what to work on

  • Woran liegt

    what ___ is due to

Similar words

worauf: Asking what serves as the focus of attention.
womit: Asking what was used as a means or tool.
wodurch: Asking what brought about an event.

Definition in German

Aus „wo“ und „an“ gebildet und fragt nach dem Punkt oder Merkmal, an dem etwas erkannt oder gemeint ist.

Word origin

The form combines wo, meaning where or at what point, with an, preserving the preposition required by the related German construction.

Usage tips

  • In Woran erkennst du den Unterschied?, woran asks for the identifying basis, so English how is often more natural than a literal about what.

Other meanings

  • about whatadverb

Word lists with this word