German Grammar for Beginners: Local Prepositions (A1)
Where is the cat? Where are my keys? To answer these questions in German, you need local prepositions. These are small words that talk about places and positions.
Here are the 6 most important position words you need to learn today!
1. Auf (On / On top of)
Use auf when something is touching the top surface of an object.
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German: Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
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English: The book is lying on the table.
2. Über (Over / Above)
Use über when something is higher than an object, but not touching it.
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German: Das Bild hängt über dem Sofa.
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English: The picture hangs above the couch.
3. Unter (Under / Below)
Use unter when something is directly underneath something else.
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German: Die Katze schläft unter dem Tisch.
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English: The cat is sleeping under the table.
4. Neben (Next to / Beside)
Use neben when two things are side-by-side.
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German: Er steht neben dem Fenster.
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English: He is standing next to the window.
5. Vor (In front of)
Use vor when something is ahead of an object.
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German: Der Hund wartet vor dem Haus.
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English: The dog is waiting in front of the house.
6. Hinter (Behind)
Use hinter when something is at the back of an object.
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German: Die Kinder spielen hinter dem Haus.
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English: The children are playing behind the house.
Quick Summary Table
| German Word | English Meaning | Simple Example |
| auf | on | auf dem Stuhl (on the chair) |
| über | above / over | über dem Dach (above the roof) |
| unter | under | unter dem Bett (under the bed) |
| neben | next to | neben dem Buch (next to the book) |
| vor | in front of | vor der Tür (in front of the door) |
| hinter | behind | hinter der Küche (behind the kitchen) |
A1 Study Tip:
Do not worry too much about the endings (dem, den, der) just yet! Focus on memorizing the vocabulary words first. When you know what auf, unter, and neben mean, you can easily find your way around a German city.