Place and destination: nach, zu, in, bei and aus

In brief

German uses different prepositions for going somewhere, being with someone, and coming from a place. Choose the preposition by the kind of destination or starting point, not simply by translating English ‘to,’ ‘at,’ or ‘from.’

Form

nach + city or country without an article; zu + dative; in + accusative for entering a place; bei + dative; aus + dative.

Usage

• Use nach for travel to cities and countries without an article, and in nach Hause (‘home’).
• Use zu when going to a person or an appointment, often with a professional such as a doctor.
• Use in when going into a place such as a shop: in den Supermarkt.
• Use bei for being at someone’s place or with a person; it does not express a destination.
• Use aus for coming from a city or country, or out of an enclosed place.

Examples

• Ich fahre morgen nach Berlin. — I’m traveling to Berlin tomorrow.
• Wir gehen heute zum Arzt. — We’re going to the doctor today.
• Ich gehe in den Supermarkt und kaufe Milch. — I’m going into the supermarket to buy milk.
• Ich bin bei meiner Schwester. Sie kommt gerade aus dem Supermarkt. — I’m at my sister’s place. She’s just coming out of the supermarket.

Common mistake

❌ Ich fahre zu Berlin.

✅ Ich fahre nach Berlin.

English ‘to Berlin’ does not use zu in German: destinations that are cities normally take nach.

Remember

For a person, think zu when going there and bei when already there.