um was

what ... about; what for

→ um

phrase Uncommon #16,536

what ... about; what for Colloquial form of “worum” (what ... about) or “wozu” (what for), depending on context. In formal or standard German, use “worum” or “wozu” instead.

GE: Um was geht es in dem Film?

EN: What is the film about?

Um was geht's?

What's it about?

— Fack ju Göhte (2013)

Rate, um was es ging.

Guess what it was about.

— Feld der Träume (1989)

Um was gebeten?

What was requested?

— City of Men (2007)

Um was geht's denn?

What’s it about, then?

— Gangs of Wasseypur - Teil 1 (2012)

Um was für einen Notfall geht es?

What kind of emergency is it?

— Mystic River (2003)

Um was geht’s hier?

What is this about?

— Rushmore (1998)

Um was zu verhindern?

To prevent what?

— Nürnberg (2025)

Eine Minute, das ist alles, um was ich bitte.

One minute—that is all I ask for.

— Stirb langsam (1988)

Um was fragst du mich?

What are you asking me?

Um was geht es?

What is it about?

— Aquarius (2016)

Ich weiß, um was es geht.

I know what it's about.

Also, das ist alles, um was es hier ging?

So, is that all this was about?

— Stirb langsam (1988)

Du bist vielleicht der Auserwählte, aber hier geht's um was viel Größeres.

You may be the Chosen One, but this is about something much bigger.

— Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes - Teil 1 (2010)