waarover

Waarover is a Dutch compound question word and relative pronoun meaning “about what” or “on what subject.” It is formed by combining the interrogative adverb waar with the preposition over, producing a single word that stands in for over wat or over welke kwestie in questions and relative clauses.

In direct questions, waarover introduces the topic of discussion: for example, Waarover gaat dit boek? or Waarover hebben jullie het? In indirect questions, waarover is used after verbs of thinking or asking: Ik weet niet waarover hij praat. Ze vroeg waarover het rapport ging. In relative clauses, waarover functions as a relative pronoun: het onderwerp waarover we spreken (the topic about which we are speaking).

Word order in Dutch with waarover follows the general pattern for fused question words: in main clauses, the finite verb typically precedes the subject for questions, as in Waarover gaat dit boek? In subordinate or relative clauses, waarover may appear at the start of the clause or inside it, as in Het boek waarover ik sprak is interessant.

Etymology and related forms: waarover comes from the combination of waar (where/what) and over (about). It is part of a broader system of fused question words such as waarom (why), binnenzinnen zoals waarin (in what), en waarheen (to where). Waarover is common in both spoken and written Dutch and is preferred in many registers over the more cumbersome split form over wat.

See also: other fused Dutch question words and their usage in direct questions, indirect questions, and relative clauses.