German Prepositions: The Complete Guide (With Two-Way Prepositions Explained)

German prepositions are one of the trickiest parts of the language because they determine the case of the noun that follows — and you have to memorise which preposition takes which case. Here's a systematic breakdown that makes them manageable.

Always accusative prepositions

These five prepositions always take the accusative case: durch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne (without), um (around/at). Memory trick: 'dogs fight going outside usually' — D, F, G, O, U. Ich kaufe das für meinen Vater (I'm buying that for my father — meinen = masculine accusative). Er geht durch den Park (He walks through the park — den = masculine accusative).

Always dative prepositions

These prepositions always take dative: aus (from/out of), bei (at/near), mit (with), nach (after/to), seit (since), von (from/of), zu (to), gegenüber (opposite). Memory trick: 'a bear might need some very zealous guidance' — A, B, M, N, S, V, Z, G. Ich fahre mit dem Zug (I travel by train — dem = masculine dative). Ich wohne bei meiner Mutter (I live at my mother's — meiner = feminine dative).

Two-way prepositions — the ones that change

Nine prepositions take either accusative or dative depending on meaning: an (on/at), auf (on/onto), hinter (behind), in (in/into), neben (next to), über (over/above), unter (under/below), vor (in front of/ago), zwischen (between). The rule: accusative for movement toward a destination (Wohin? — Where to?). Dative for location or static state (Wo? — Where?). Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch (I put the book onto the table — movement, accusative). Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch (The book is on the table — location, dative).

Contractions you must know

German commonly contracts prepositions with definite articles. an + dem = am (Ich bin am Bahnhof — I'm at the station). an + das = ans (Ich gehe ans Fenster — I go to the window). auf + das = aufs. bei + dem = beim. in + dem = im (Ich bin im Büro — I'm in the office). in + das = ins (Ich gehe ins Büro — I go into the office). von + dem = vom. zu + dem = zum. zu + der = zur. These contractions are standard — don't avoid them thinking they're informal.

Learning prepositions through phrases, not rules

The most reliable way to internalise German prepositions is to learn fixed phrases where they appear. Auf Wiedersehen (goodbye — literally 'until seeing again'). Im Gegenteil (on the contrary). Von Anfang an (from the beginning). Zum Beispiel (for example). Am Ende (in the end). At Butterfluent, when you click a preposition in a subtitle, you see the case it's triggering and the phrase in full context — which is far more memorable than a grammar table.