PrepositionA1

auf

on, on top of (horizontal surface) · onto (movement to a surface) · at, in (with certain places or events) · to (with islands or island nations)

Auf is a common German preposition meaning 'on', 'onto', or 'at', depending on context. It can take either the dative case (location, where?) or the accusative case (direction, where to?). It also appears in many fixed verb phrases and separable verbs.

What auf means

  1. on, on top of (horizontal surface) — Describing location with dative, e.g., 'auf dem Tisch' (on the table).
  2. onto (movement to a surface) — Describing direction with accusative, e.g., 'auf den Tisch' (onto the table).
  3. at, in (with certain places or events) — With places like 'auf der Bank' (at the bank), 'auf der Party' (at the party).
  4. to (with islands or island nations) — With islands or island nations, e.g., 'auf die Malediven' (to the Maldives). Note: For most countries, use 'nach'.

Heard in real German videos

Lines where auf was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.

  • Sind wir auf dem Mond, Mama?Are we on the moon, Mom?
  • Geht wieder zurück aufs Schiff.Go back to the ship.
  • Junge, freue ich mich aufs Bett.Boy, am I looking forward to bed.

Example sentences

  • Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.The book is on the table.
  • Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.I put the book on the table.
  • Wir treffen uns auf der Party.We are meeting at the party.
  • Er fährt auf die Kanarischen Inseln.He is going to the Canary Islands.

Grammar

CaseDative (location) or Accusative (direction)
Contractionaufs = auf + das (accusative)

Use dative for 'where?' and accusative for 'where to?'. Example: 'Ich bin auf dem Balkon.' (I am on the balcony.) vs. 'Ich gehe auf den Balkon.' (I go onto the balcony.)

Common phrases

  • auf jeden Fallin any case, definitely
  • auf einmalsuddenly, all at once
  • auf Deutschin German
  • auf Wiedersehengoodbye (formal)
  • auf und abup and down

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers often use 'in' instead of 'auf' for certain places like 'auf der Straße' (on the street) or 'auf dem Land' (in the countryside). Remember that German uses 'auf' for open spaces and surfaces.

Don’t confuse it with

  • an — 'An' is used for vertical surfaces or borders, e.g., 'an der Wand' (on the wall), while 'auf' is for horizontal surfaces.
  • in — 'In' is used for enclosed spaces, e.g., 'in der Schachtel' (in the box), while 'auf' is for open surfaces.

Questions learners ask

When do I use 'auf' with dative or accusative?

Use dative for location (where?) and accusative for direction (where to?). For example: 'Ich bin auf dem Berg' (I am on the mountain) vs. 'Ich steige auf den Berg' (I climb onto the mountain).

What does 'aufs' mean?

'Aufs' is a contraction of 'auf' + 'das' (accusative neuter). It is used in informal spoken and written German, e.g., 'aufs Bett' (onto the bed).

How do I know if a verb uses 'auf' as a prefix?

Many verbs start with 'auf-' and are separable, e.g., 'aufstehen' (to get up), 'aufmachen' (to open). The prefix 'auf' often adds the meaning of 'up' or 'open'. You need to learn these verbs individually.