bis
until (a point in time) · to (a place or point) · by (a deadline)
Bis means 'until' or 'to' and marks an endpoint in time or space. It is used constantly in everyday German for deadlines, farewells, and ranges.
What bis means
- until (a point in time) — Talking about time limits or deadlines
- to (a place or point) — Talking about spatial endpoints, often with 'zu'
- by (a deadline) — Indicating something must be done before a time
Heard in real German videos
Lines where bis was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Also bis morgen dann.So see you tomorrow then.
- Du musst bis heute Abend warten.You'll have to wait until tonight.
Example sentences
- Ich warte bis morgen.I'll wait until tomorrow.
- Der Zug fährt bis Berlin.The train goes as far as Berlin.
- Du musst bis Freitag abgeben.You have to hand it in by Friday.
- Bis gleich!See you in a bit!
Grammar
| Type | preposition |
|---|---|
| Case | accusative (when used alone) |
| Common combinations | bis zu + dative, bis auf + accusative |
When used with another preposition, the second preposition determines the case. 'Bis' alone is followed by the accusative.
Common phrases
- bis baldsee you soon
- bis gleichsee you in a moment
- bis spätersee you later
- bis morgensee you tomorrow
- bis dannsee you then
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often use 'für' instead of 'bis' for time limits, e.g. 'Ich brauche es für morgen' instead of 'Ich brauche es bis morgen'. Use 'bis' for deadlines.
Don’t confuse it with
- seit — 'Seit' means 'since' and marks the start of a period, while 'bis' marks the end.
- zu — 'Zu' means 'to' for directions and people, while 'bis' emphasizes the endpoint or limit.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'bis' and 'bis zu'?
'Bis' is used before adverbs, times, and many temporal expressions without an article (e.g., 'bis morgen', 'bis nächste Woche'). 'Bis zu' is used before nouns with an article or determiner that requires a preposition (e.g., 'bis zum Bahnhof') and takes the dative case.
How do you say 'see you later' in German?
You can say 'bis später' or 'bis dann'. 'Bis gleich' means see you in a moment, and 'bis bald' means see you soon.
Does 'bis' take the accusative or dative case?
When used alone, 'bis' is followed by the accusative case. When combined with another preposition like 'zu', the second preposition determines the case.