Wo-Compounds

I. Theory

Wo-compounds, like da-compounds, combine wo-, or wor-, with a wide array of prepositions. Wo-compounds are used to show prepositions involved in questions. In English, we would say: “What are you writing with?” In German this would be: “Womit schreibst du?” Although wo generally means “where”, it usually is translated as “what” in these situations.

Worauf wartest du? What are you waiting for? Woher kommst du? Where are you from? *Worüber denkst du nach? What are you thinking about?

*Here, we see wor- instead because the preposition starts with a vowel.

II. Wen/Wem

Wo-compounds can only be used when the object of the preposition isn’t a person. In these instances, either wen + accusative preposition or wem + dative preposition is used.

Auf wen warten wir? Whom are we waiting for? But Worauf warten wir? What are we waiting for? Nach wem suchst du? Whom are you looking for? But Wonach suchst du? What are you looking for?

III. Wo-clauses

It should be noted that, at times, we see wo-compounds used in subordinate clauses. In these situations, the wo-clause has the same meaning as a relative clause. This is an optional alternative to using relative pronouns but only when the antecedent is an object and not a person.

wovon Morgen gehe ich auf das Konzert, wovon ich dir erzählt hatte. Tomorrow I am going to the concert that I told you about. Or Morgen gehe ich auf das Konzert, von dem ich dir erzählt hatte. Tomorrow, I am going to the concert that I told you about. wovor Das Mädchen sah etwas, wovor sie Angst hatte. The girl saw something, that she was afraid of. Or Das Mädchen sah etwas, vor dem sie Angst hatte. The girl saw something, that she was afraid of.