PrepositionA1

für

for (indicating purpose or intended goal) · for (indicating benefit or recipient) · for (indicating duration) · for (indicating substitution or exchange)

Für means 'for' and is one of the most common German prepositions. It always takes the accusative case. It expresses purpose, benefit, duration, and substitution.

What für means

for (indicating purpose or intended goal) — When something is intended for a person, purpose, or use.
for (indicating benefit or recipient) — When someone does something for someone else's benefit.
for (indicating duration) — When expressing a period of time.
for (indicating substitution or exchange) — When something is given in exchange or as a substitute.

Heard in real German videos

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

Bist du bereit für den großen Ansturm?Are you ready for the big rush?
Ja, vielen Dank für die Show.Yes, thank you very much for the show.
Oh Mann, das ist keine Aufgabe für mich.Oh man, this is not a task for me.

Example sentences

Ich habe ein Geschenk für dich.I have a gift for you.
Wir fahren für zwei Wochen nach Italien.We are going to Italy for two weeks.
Er arbeitet für eine große Firma.He works for a big company.
Für einen Ausländer spricht er sehr gut Deutsch.For a foreigner, he speaks German very well.

Grammar

Case	Accusative
Contraction	für + das = fürs (colloquial)

Always use the accusative case after für, even when the English equivalent might suggest dative.

Common phrases

für immerforever
für michfor me / in my opinion
Was für ein...!What a...!
für nichtsfor nothing / in vain
Tag für Tagday after day

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers often use 'vor' instead of 'für' when expressing duration, e.g., 'Ich lerne seit zwei Jahren Deutsch' (not 'für zwei Jahre'). Use 'für' only for a period that is completed or planned as a whole, not with 'seit' for ongoing actions.

Don’t confuse it with

vor — Vor means 'before' or 'ago' and takes dative or accusative depending on meaning; für means 'for' and always takes accusative.
zu — Zu often means 'to' or 'for' in the sense of purpose with a verb, e.g., 'zum Essen' (for eating), while für is used with nouns or pronouns.

Questions learners ask

What case does 'für' take?

Für always takes the accusative case. For example: 'für den Mann', 'für die Frau', 'für das Kind'.

What is the difference between 'für' and 'um' when expressing purpose?

Für is used with nouns or pronouns to indicate purpose or benefit, while 'um...zu' is used with an infinitive clause to express purpose, e.g., 'Ich lerne, um zu bestehen' (I study in order to pass).

Can 'für' be used to express time?

Yes, für can express a duration of time, e.g., 'Ich bleibe für eine Woche' (I'm staying for a week). However, for ongoing actions that started in the past, use 'seit' with present tense.