German Prepositions – Explained with Examples

German prepositions (Präpositionen) are small but powerful words that show the relationship between nouns, pronouns and other parts of a sentence. They often tell us about direction, place, time or cause — and always determine which case (Akkusativ, Dativ or Genitiv) follows.

1. What Are Prepositions in German?

A preposition connects a noun or pronoun with another word in a sentence. It shows relationships like where something is, when something happens or how things are connected.

Example:

• Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.)
• Ich gehe in die Schule. (I am going to school.)

2. Types of German Prepositions

German prepositions are categorized based on the case they govern.

Accusative Prepositions (Akkusativpräpositionen)

These prepositions always take the accusative case.

• durch – through
• für – for
• gegen – against
• ohne – without
• um – around

Example: Ich gehe durch den Park. (I walk through the park.)

Dative Prepositions (Dativpräpositionen)

These prepositions always take the dative case.

• aus – out of, from
• bei – at, near
• mit – with
• nach – after, to
• seit – since, for
• von – from, of
• zu – to

Example: Ich gehe mit meinem Freund. (I go with my friend.)

Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)

These can take either the accusative or dative case, depending on whether there is movement (accusative) or location (dative).

• an – at, on
• auf – on, onto
• hinter – behind
• in – in, into
• neben – next to
• über – over, above
• unter – under
• vor – in front of
• zwischen – between

Examples:

• Ich gehe in die Küche. (I go into the kitchen.) → Accusative (movement)
• Ich bin in der Küche. (I am in the kitchen.) → Dative (location)

Genitive Prepositions (Genitivpräpositionen)

These prepositions require the genitive case. They are more common in formal or written German.

• anstatt / statt – instead of
• trotz – despite
• während – during
• wegen – because of

Example: Wegen des Regens bleiben wir zu Hause. (Because of the rain, we stay at home.)

3. Prepositions of Time, Place and Direction

German prepositions can also be grouped by meaning:

• Time: um, seit, vor, nach, während
• Place: in, auf, unter, neben, hinter
• Direction: zu, nach, in, aus

Example: Ich fahre nach Berlin. (I’m traveling to Berlin.)

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Always check which case the preposition takes (Akkusativ, Dativ or Genitiv).
• Be careful with two-way prepositions — movement vs. location matters.
• Some prepositions can change meaning depending on the case.

5. Summary Table

Here’s a quick overview:

• Accusative: durch, für, gegen, ohne, um
• Dative: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu
• Two-way: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen
• Genitive: anstatt, trotz, während, wegen

Tip: Practice with examples daily to remember which prepositions use which case. Repetition is key to mastering German prepositions!