How do you say "I just wanted to ask briefly" in German?

"I just wanted to ask briefly" in German is "Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen". This phrase is commonly used in Germany.

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How to Say ‘I just wanted to ask briefly’ in German

Q: What does "Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen" mean in English?

"Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen" means "I just wanted to ask briefly" in English. Usage tip: [nachfragen] is a separable verb, but after [wollte] it stays together at the end: [Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen]. Compare with the main-verb version: [Ich frage nur kurz nach].

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen

ikh VOL-tuh noor koorts NAHKH-frah-gen

[ikh VOL-tuh noor koorts NAHKH-frah-gen]

💬 Usage Tip: [nachfragen] is a separable verb, but after [wollte] it stays together at the end: [Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen]. Compare with the main-verb version: [Ich frage nur kurz nach].

Phrase Breakdown

Ich wollte

ikh VOL-tuh

I wanted / I would like to

Polite past form often used to soften a request.

Example

Ich wollte etwas fragen.

I wanted to ask something.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The first-person singular pronoun used for yourself.

Example

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen, ob diese Strecke schneller ist.

I just wanted to quickly ask whether this route is faster.

wollte

[VOL-tuh]

wanted

Past tense of wollen, used here politely to soften a question or statement.

Example

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen, ob wir schon fast da sind.

I just wanted to quickly ask whether we are almost there already.

Nur kurz

noor koorts

Just briefly / just a moment

Makes the request sound short and polite.

Example

Ich bleibe nur kurz.

I’ll stay only briefly.

Words in this phrase

nur

[noor]

only; just

A small word used to soften what you say or show it is limited in scope.

Example

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen, nicht kritisieren.

I just wanted to ask briefly, not criticize.

kurz

[koorts]

briefly; shortly

Used to say that something will take only a short time.

Example

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen, welche Straße wir jetzt nehmen.

I just wanted to quickly ask which street we are taking now.

nachfragen

[NAHKH-frah-gen]

ask; inquire; follow up

An infinitive meaning to ask for more information or clarification.

Example

Ich wollte nur kurz nachfragen, ob diese Route üblich ist.

I just wanted to quickly ask whether this route is usual.

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