German · A1 · Everyday language
Where is it? in German
Learn to ask where things are and describe their location in German using simple phrases for on, under, in, next to, behind and in front of.
What you'll learn
- Ask where an object is.
- Describe where objects and animals are.
- Use the correct article after a preposition of place when describing a location.
- Say that you have found something.
German phrases for where is it?
Wo ist der Ball?
Where is the ball?
Wo means 'where'. Use ist for one person, animal or thing.
Er ist unter dem Tisch.
It is under the table.
Er refers to der Ball. German uses the noun's grammatical gender, even for objects.
Das Buch ist auf dem Regal.
The book is on the shelf.
Auf dem Regal describes a book on top of the shelving unit. For a book on one of its shelves, German usually uses im Regal.
Die Katze ist in der Kiste.
The cat is in the box.
In der Kiste means the cat is inside the box.
Neben der Tür.
Next to the door.
A short answer to a question with wo. Neben means 'next to'.
Hinter dem Sofa.
Behind the sofa.
Hinter means 'behind'. Das Sofa becomes dem Sofa after hinter when describing a location.
Vor dem Haus.
In front of the house.
Vor means 'in front of' when describing a location.
Gefunden!
Found it!
A natural, cheerful way to announce that you have found something.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Ball; plural: die Bälle
ball
A masculine noun; use er to refer back to it.
der Tisch; plural: die Tische
table
Under the table: unter dem Tisch.
das Buch; plural: die Bücher
book
A neuter noun; use es to refer back to it.
das Regal; plural: die Regale
shelf; shelving unit
Im Regal usually means on a shelf within the unit; auf dem Regal means on top of the unit.
die Katze; plural: die Katzen
cat
A feminine noun; use sie to refer back to it.
die Kiste; plural: die Kisten
box; crate
A sturdy box, such as a toy box. A cardboard box is often called der Karton; plural: die Kartons.
die Tür; plural: die Türen
door
Next to the door: neben der Tür.
das Sofa; plural: die Sofas
sofa
Behind the sofa: hinter dem Sofa.
das Haus; plural: die Häuser
house
In front of the house: vor dem Haus.
Asking where something is
Use Wo ist ...? to ask where one person, animal or thing is. To answer, put the subject first, followed by ist and the location.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Question | Wo ist + subject? | Wo ist der Ball? |
| Answer | Subject + ist + location. | Der Ball ist unter dem Tisch. |
| Short answer | Location only | Unter dem Tisch. |
Location and dative articles
When these prepositions answer 'Where?', use the dative case. For singular nouns, der and das become dem; die becomes der. These prepositions use a different case for a destination, but here we only describe locations.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der → dem | unter dem Tisch |
| Neuter | das → dem | hinter dem Sofa |
| Feminine | die → der | neben der Tür |
Useful prepositions of place
Learn each preposition together with a short location phrase. In dem is usually shortened to im.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| on | auf | auf dem Tisch — on the table |
| under | unter | unter dem Tisch — under the table |
| in | in | in der Kiste — in the box |
| next to | neben | neben der Tür — next to the door |
| behind | hinter | hinter dem Sofa — behind the sofa |
| in front of | vor | vor dem Haus — in front of the house |
| Common contraction | in + dem = im | im Haus — in the house |
More examples
Wo ist das Buch? Es ist auf dem Tisch.
Where is the book? It is on the table.
Use es because Buch is neuter: das Buch.
Wo ist die Katze? Sie ist hinter dem Sofa.
Where is the cat? It is behind the sofa.
Use sie because Katze is feminine: die Katze.
Wo ist der Ball? Neben der Kiste. Gefunden!
Where is the ball? Next to the box. Found it!
Try this short exchange while looking for a toy together.