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How to Say ‘May I ask you something quickly?’ in German

Darf ich Sie kurz was fragen?

darf ikh zee koorts vas FRAH-gen

[darf ikh zee koorts vas FRAH-gen]

💬 Usage Tip: was here is the casual spoken short form of etwas "something". You'll hear was constantly in everyday speech, even in otherwise polite questions.

Phrase Breakdown

Darf ich Sie

darf ikh zee

May I (ask) you

A polite opening using the formal 'Sie'. Say 'darf' with a soft, almost silent r.

Example

Darf ich Sie stören?

May I disturb you?

Words in this phrase

Darf

[darf]

may / am allowed to

A polite modal verb used to ask permission.

Example

Bevor ich nach der Unternehmenskultur frage, sage ich: Darf ich fragen?

Before I ask about company culture, I say: May I ask?

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

Sie

[zee]

you

The formal 'you' used in polite professional conversations.

Example

Ich freue mich, Sie hier auf der Jobmesse zu sehen.

I am pleased to see you here at the job fair.

kurz was fragen?

koorts vas FRAH-gen

quickly ask something?

'Was' is short for 'etwas' (something). 'Kurz' means briefly. The u in 'kurz' is short, like in 'put'.

Example

Kann ich kurz was fragen?

Can I quickly ask something?

Words in this phrase

kurz

[koorts]

briefly, for a moment

Means short; as an adverb, for a short time.

Example

Kann ich kurz telefonieren?

Can I make a quick call?

was

[vas]

something

Colloquial short form of 'etwas'.

Example

Ich muss dir was sagen.

I have to tell you something.

fragen

[FRAH-gen]

ask

Infinitive verb meaning to ask a question; used after modal verbs like 'darf'.

Example

Ich möchte dich etwas fragen.

I'd like to ask you something.

Guides for German learners

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