erfrage

Erfrage is a German verb meaning to obtain information by asking. It is the infinitive form erfragen, and in finite forms it appears as ich erfrage, du erfragst, er erfragt, wir erfragen, ihr erfragt, sie erfragen. The perfect tense is formed with haben: ich habe erfragt, du hast erfragt, er hat erfragt, etc. While common verbs like fragen or nachfragen are often used in everyday speech, erfragen emphasizes actively obtaining specific information through questioning.

Etymology and usage. The verb erfragen is built from the prefix er- and the verb fragen (to ask). The prefix suggests completion or attainment of information through questioning. In usage, erfragen is typically found in formal or written language and may convey a deliberate, purposeful inquiry. It is more precise than fragen in situations where the speaker intends to extract information directly from a source.

Noun form and related terms. The noun die Erfrage (capitalized) refers to an inquiry or the act of asking for information. It can denote a single question or the broader act of eliciting information. In contemporary German, more common terms for similar meaning include Anfrage (request), Nachfrage (follow-up inquiry), and Abfrage (query or lookup). Erfrage is most often encountered in formal writing, academic prose, or reporting of information-seeking procedures.

Examples. Ich erfrage die Öffnungszeiten beim Empfang. Er hat beim Hersteller erfragt, ob das Produkt lieferbar ist. Die Erfrage nach dem Termin wurde höflich formuliert. Related concepts include nachfragen, fragen, and erkundigen.