Continuative relative clauses (worüber, womit)

Sometimes, a relative clause doesn't just describe a single noun—it reacts to or comments on an entire preceding sentence. In English, we typically use "which" for this (e.g., "He got stage fright, which was a problem").

When this "which" requires a preposition (like "about which" or "with which"), German uses a wo-compound. These clauses are called continuative relative clauses (weiterführende Relativsätze). Because they are relative clauses, they send the conjugated verb to the very end of the sentence.

Referring back with worüber

If the verb or adjective in your relative clause requires the preposition über (e.g., lachen über, sich ärgern über, sich amüsieren über), you will use the compound worüber.

Notice how worüber points back to the entire situation described in the first half of the sentence, rather than just pointing to a specific noun:

The comedian forgot the joke, which the audience laughed loudly about.
Der Komiker hat den Witz vergessen, worüber das Publikum laut gelacht hat.
The humor is very dark, which the people are amused by.
Der Humor ist sehr schwarz, worüber sich die Leute amüsieren.
While he was telling the joke, they booed him, which he was annoyed about.
Während er den Witz erzählt hat, haben sie ihn ausgebuht, worüber er sich geärgert hat.

Referring back with womit

Similarly, if the phrase in your relative clause requires the preposition mit (e.g., ein Problem haben mit, zufrieden sein mit), you combine wo + mit to get womit.

The comedian is said to have stage fright before the show, which nobody has a problem with.
Der Komiker soll vor der Show Lampenfieber haben, womit niemand ein Problem hat.
She was so quick-witted that she found a new punchline, with which she saved the show.
Sie war so schlagfertig, dass sie eine neue Pointe gefunden hat, womit sie die Show gerettet hat.
The show was a success and the reaction was positive, which he was very satisfied with.
Die Show war ein Erfolg und die Reaktion war positiv, womit er sehr zufrieden war.

More Practice

Remember that worüber and womit act as subordinating words here. Whether the clause has one verb or two, the conjugated verb must go to the very end of the sentence.

He reacted very quick-wittedly, which everyone was happy about.
Er hat sehr schlagfertig reagiert, worüber sich alle gefreut haben.
The comedian has stage fright, which he makes jokes about.
Der Komiker hat Lampenfieber, worüber er Witze macht.