nachhaken

Nachhaken is a German verb meaning to press for further information by asking follow-up questions, often to clarify a point or to obtain additional details after something has been stated. The term is formed with the prefix nach- attached to the verb haken (to hook), and it is a separable-prefix verb, so in present tense you say Ich hake nach, and in perfect you say Ich habe nachgehakt.

Usage is common in interviews, journalism, meetings, negotiations, and customer service, where speakers want to elicit missing information or verify statements. The nuance is usually neutral, but the tone and context can make it feel persistent or demanding. Nachhaken specifically emphasizes following up on a point that was already introduced, whereas nachfragen is a broader inquiry, and nachbohren conveys a more probing or aggressive approach.

In practice, nachhaken can be as simple as asking for a clarification or as forceful as demanding concrete examples, depending on the setting. Examples include: Der Moderator hakte nach, um die Zahlen zu erklären; Sie hakte beim Thema nach, weil der Bericht unklar war. In contemporary usage, nachhaken is a standard, neutral term in German discourse for seeking additional detail.