Place Adverbs

Adverbs of place tell us where an action happens, and they help listeners picture the scene. This short guide goes over common adverbs, useful prepositions, and tiny differences that matter.

Common Adverbs

Common adverbs of place are short and often come right after the verb or at the sentence end, so the action's location is clear.

German Word(s)	English Word(s)
hier	here
dort	there
da	there / at that spot
überall	everywhere
nirgendwo	nowhere

German Example	English Translation
🏠 Ich arbeite heute drüben.	I am working over there today.
🏢 Sie trifft sich mittags oben im Café.	She meets at the café upstairs at noon.
🚗 Wir parken morgen hinten am Park.	We are parking at the back of the park tomorrow.
🛤️ Er kommt später vorne am Gleis.	He is coming later to the front of the platform.
🌳 Die Kinder spielen draußen heute länger.	The children are playing outside longer today.
🗄️ Ich habe die Akte hier auf dem Schreibtisch.	I have the file here on the desk.
🏨 Sie übernachtet nächste Woche drüben im Hotel.	She is staying over at the hotel next week.
🚪 Bitte komm morgen früh hinten durch die Tür.	Please come through the back door tomorrow morning.

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases add detail by linking the place to things like time or direction; they can come at the start or after the verb for emphasis.

German Word(s)	English Word(s)
an dem / am	at the (vertical surface / water)
auf dem	on the (horizontal surface)
in dem / im	in the
neben dem	next to the
unter dem	under the

German Example	English Translation
🕰️ Wir treffen uns um drei am Brunnen.	We are meeting at three by the fountain.
🪑 Die Plätze sind neben dem großen Baum.	The seats are next to the big tree.
🛶 Sie paddelten über den See.	They paddled across the lake.
🧭 Der Markt ist gegenüber der Kirche.	The market is opposite the church.
🚶 Er ging entlang der Straße.	He walked along the street.
⛲ Kinder spielen rund um den Springbrunnen.	Children are playing around the fountain.
🛤️ Der Zug hält neben Gleis fünf.	The train stops next to platform five.
🚪 Das Zimmer ist hinter dem Vorhang.	The room is behind the curtain.

Word Order

Adverbs of place usually follow the verb or appear at the sentence end; placing them first gives them extra emphasis while wo questions expect the adverb or prepositional phrase to answer directly.

German Example	English Translation
🗓️ Morgen früh treffe ich sie drüben im Park.	Tomorrow morning I am meeting her over there in the park.
🕶️ Gestern Abend habe ich oben auf der Terrasse geessen.	Yesterday evening I ate upstairs on the terrace.
🧳 Nächste Woche ziehen wir hinten im Haus ein.	Next week we are moving in at the back of the house.
🐕 Heute Nachmittag geht er vorne mit dem Hund spazieren.	This afternoon he is walking the dog out front.

Small Differences

Tiny differences between adverbs like dort and da affect tone and pointing: da feels more immediate or natural, while dort is more distant or formal.

German Example	English Translation	Note
🕵️ Der Detektiv arbeitete drüben im Café.	The detective worked over there in the café.	Casual, distant location
☕ Er trank seinen Kaffee dort am Fenster.	He drank his coffee there at the window.	More neutral, “there”
📝 Die Notizen liegen hier auf dem Tisch.	The notes are here on the table.	Close to the speaker
🚪 Die Akten sind hinten im Schrank.	The files are in the back of the cabinet.	Specific rear location

Summary

Place adverbs show where something happens; use common adverbs for quick reference, prepositional phrases for detail, and pay attention to word order for natural emphasis.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025