afvragen

Afvragen is a Dutch verb meaning to question or to wonder about something, often expressed in the reflexive form zich afvragen, which means to ask oneself. The sense ranges from simple curiosity to doubt or skepticism about a fact, plan, or situation. For example: Ik vraag me af wat er gebeurd is. We moeten ons afvragen of dit de juiste oplossing is. De toezichthouders vroegen zich af waarom het proces vertraging opliep.

Usage notes: Zich afvragen is commonly used with a subordinate clause introduced by of (whether) or with an indirect question. It can express personal reflection as well as public or analytical doubt. The construction is versatile in both spoken and written Dutch, including journalism and academic writing.

Grammar: The verb is conjugated with a reflexive pronoun. Present tense: ik vraag me af, jij vraagt je af, hij/zij vraagt zich af, wij vragen ons af, jullie vragen je af, zij vragen zich af. Past tense: ik vroeg me af, jij vroeg je af, hij vroeg zich af, wij vroegen ons af, jullie vroegen je af, zij vroegen zich af. Perfect tense: ik heb me afgevraagd, jij hebt je afgevraagd, hij heeft zich afgevraagd, wij hebben ons afgevraagd. The prefix af- is a separable prefix; in all forms the essential meaning remains “to question/ponder.”

Related nuances: Afvragen can also appear in more formal or analytic contexts to indicate that something is open to doubt or requires further scrutiny. It is distinct from simply asking a direct question, as it conveys internal consideration or doubt rather than an outward inquiry alone.