AdverbA1

hier

here (in this place) · here (at this point in time or situation)

Means 'here' and points to the place where the speaker is or to a place just mentioned. It is one of the most common German location words and is used in everyday speech exactly like English 'here'.

What hier means

  1. here (in this place) — when pointing to the speaker's location or a nearby place
  2. here (at this point in time or situation) — when referring to the current moment or context

Heard in real German videos

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

  • Ja, gern. Zum Glück sind sie schnell hier.Luckily they are here quickly.
  • Hier sind ein paar Büroartikel.Here are some office supplies.
  • Das Essen hier ist echt, Peppa.The food here is real, Peppa.

Example sentences

  • Ich bin hier.I am here.
  • Hier ist es kalt.It is cold here.
  • Komm hierher!Come here!
  • Hier wohne ich.I live here.

Common phrases

  • hier und dahere and there
  • hier und jetzthere and now
  • von hierfrom here
  • hier bleibento stay here

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers sometimes confuse 'hier' with 'her' (direction towards the speaker) or 'da' (there). Use 'hier' for a specific place near the speaker, 'da' for a more distant or less specific place, and 'her' as a directional adverb meaning 'towards the speaker', often used in compounds like 'hierher' (to here).

Don’t confuse it with

  • da — 'Da' means 'there' or can be used more generally for a place that is not necessarily close to the speaker, while 'hier' specifically means 'here'.
  • her — 'Her' is a directional adverb meaning 'towards the speaker' and is often used in compounds like 'hierher' (to here), whereas 'hier' is a static location.

Questions learners ask

What is the difference between 'hier', 'da' and 'dort'?

'Hier' means 'here' (close to the speaker), 'da' means 'there' (often close to the listener or a general location), and 'dort' means 'there' (further away from both). In colloquial German, 'da' is often used for both 'here' and 'there'.

How do you say 'come here' in German?

You say 'Komm her!' or 'Komm hierher!'. 'Hierher' emphasizes the direction towards the speaker.

Can 'hier' be used to answer the phone?

Yes, you can say 'Hallo, [Name] hier' to identify yourself, similar to 'Hello, this is [Name]' in English.

Related words

da