Learn Hardcore German: Wir freuen uns darauf. - We are looking forward to it.

Leaving the reflexive pronoun out (Wir freuen darauf) is grammatically wrong in standard German. The reflexive pronoun doesn’t translate directly into English; it’s just required by the verb sich freuen.

What exactly does darauf mean in this sentence?

Darauf literally breaks down as da- + auf, something like “there-on.” But in real usage it means “on it / about it / for it / for that” depending on context.

In Wir freuen uns darauf, it refers back to something already mentioned or clearly understood from context:

Wir freuen uns darauf. – We’re looking forward to it (that thing we just talked about).

So darauf here is a pronoun-like word that stands for “that event / that situation”.

Why is it darauf and not auf das?

German often prefers da(r)- + preposition instead of using auf + das when referring to things (not people):

darauf = auf das (es / das, neuter thing or idea)
daran = an das
damit = mit dem
etc.

Wir freuen uns auf das is incomplete because auf das normally needs a noun after it:

Wir freuen uns auf das Konzert. – We’re looking forward to the concert.

But if the noun is known and you want to avoid repeating it, you say:

Wir freuen uns darauf. – We’re looking forward to it.

So darauf is the natural “short form” when the thing has already been mentioned.

What’s the difference between Wir freuen uns and Wir freuen uns darauf?

Wir freuen uns by itself is incomplete; it feels like “We are pleased / We are happy,” but it usually needs more context:

Wir freuen uns, dass du da bist. – We’re happy that you’re here.
Wir freuen uns über dein Geschenk. – We’re happy about your gift.

Wir freuen uns darauf is much more specific: it means “We are looking forward to it (something in the future)”.

So:

sich freuen über = be glad/happy about something (usually present/past)
sich freuen auf = look forward to something (future)
Wir freuen uns darauf is always the “looking forward to it” meaning.

How would I say what exactly we’re looking forward to, instead of just “it”?

You can either:

Name the thing directly with auf + noun:
- Wir freuen uns auf den Urlaub. – We’re looking forward to the vacation.
- Wir freuen uns auf das Konzert. – We’re looking forward to the concert.
Or use darauf, followed by an infinitive clause with zu:
- Wir freuen uns darauf, dich zu sehen. – We’re looking forward to seeing you.
- Wir freuen uns darauf, nach Berlin zu fahren. – We’re looking forward to going to Berlin.
- Wir freuen uns darauf, wieder zusammenzuarbeiten. – We’re looking forward to working together again.

In your short sentence, darauf replaces that whole clause: it stands for the event you’re looking forward to.

Is Wir freuen uns darauf more like “We are happy about it” or “We are looking forward to it”?

The natural translation in almost all contexts is “We are looking forward to it.”

Even though freuen can mean “to make happy,” the combination sich freuen auf + something (usually future) is specifically about anticipation.

Wir freuen uns darauf. – We’re looking forward to it.
Wir freuen uns darüber. – We are happy about it (often something that has happened or is currently the case).

So when you see auf (or darauf) with sich freuen, think “look forward to.”

Could I also say Wir freuen uns schon darauf? What does schon add?

Yes, very common, and it sounds more natural in many situations.

Wir freuen uns darauf. – We’re looking forward to it.
Wir freuen uns schon darauf. – We’re already looking forward to it / We really are looking forward to it.

Here schon adds a nuance of “already / indeed / really”, emphasizing that the anticipation is already there, sometimes earlier than expected. It makes the sentence a bit warmer and more enthusiastic.

Is Wir freuen uns darauf formal or informal, or is it neutral?

It’s neutral and very common in both spoken and written German.

You can use it:

In emails: Wir freuen uns darauf, von Ihnen zu hören.
With friends: Wir freuen uns darauf!
At work, semi-formal: Wir freuen uns darauf, Sie kennenzulernen.

It’s polite and completely safe in almost any context.

What’s the past tense of this idea? How do I say “We were looking forward to it”?

Use the Perfekt with haben + sich gefreut and still keep darauf:

Wir haben uns darauf gefreut.
– We were looking forward to it. / We had been looking forward to it.

With more detail:

Wir haben uns darauf gefreut, dich zu sehen. – We were looking forward to seeing you.

Spoken German prefers this Perfekt form over the simple past (Wir freuten uns darauf), which sounds quite formal or literary.

What’s the word order if I add an infinitive clause, like “We’re looking forward to seeing you”?

Pattern:

Wir freuen uns darauf, + [rest of the clause with zu].

Examples:

Wir freuen uns darauf, dich zu sehen.
- dich (object) comes before zu sehen (infinitive).
Wir freuen uns darauf, mit dir zu sprechen.
- prepositional phrase mit dir comes before zu sprechen.
Wir freuen uns darauf, morgen anzukommen.
- adverb morgen comes before anzukommen.

The zu + infinitive (e.g. zu sehen, zu sprechen) goes to the end of the clause, and objects/adverbs usually stand before the infinitive.

Can I use this structure with other pronouns, like “He is looking forward to it” or “They are looking forward to it”?

Yes, just conjugate sich freuen and change the reflexive pronoun accordingly:

Ich freue mich darauf. – I am looking forward to it.
Du freust dich darauf. – You (sing., informal) are looking forward to it.
Er freut sich darauf. – He is looking forward to it.
Sie freut sich darauf. – She is looking forward to it.
Es freut sich darauf. – It is looking forward to it. (rare, usually for animals/characters)
Wir freuen uns darauf. – We are looking forward to it.
Ihr freut euch darauf. – You (pl., informal) are looking forward to it.
Sie freuen sich darauf. – They are looking forward to it.
Sie freuen sich darauf. – You (formal) are looking forward to it.

The darauf part stays exactly the same.

How is Wir freuen uns darauf different from Wir sind froh darüber?

They describe different kinds of “being happy”:

Wir freuen uns darauf.
- Future-oriented.
- We’re looking forward to it (it hasn’t happened yet).
- Uses sich freuen auf / darauf.
Wir sind froh darüber.
- Present/past-oriented.
- We’re glad about it / we’re happy about it (it has already happened or is already true).
- Uses froh sein über / darüber.

So:

Before something happens: Wir freuen uns darauf.
After something happened (and you’re relieved or pleased): Wir sind froh darüber.