nach
to (a city or country without an article) · after (in time or order) · according to
A very common preposition meaning 'to' for cities and countries without an article, 'after' in time, and 'according to'. It also appears in many fixed phrases like 'nach Hause' (home).
What nach means
- to (a city or country without an article) — with geographical names that have no article, e.g. nach Berlin, nach Deutschland
- after (in time or order) — with time expressions or to indicate sequence, e.g. nach dem Essen, nach der Arbeit
- according to — to express a source or standard, e.g. meiner Meinung nach, nach dem Gesetz
Heard in real German videos
Lines where nach was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Wir fahren nach Hollywood.We're going to Hollywood.
- Und jetzt bringe ich euch mal nach Hause.And now I'll take you home.
- Okay, Klausy, frag Luzi nach dem Apfel.Okay, Klausy, ask Luzi about the apple.
Example sentences
- Ich fahre nach Berlin.I'm going to Berlin.
- Nach dem Essen gehen wir spazieren.After the meal we go for a walk.
- Meiner Meinung nach ist das richtig.In my opinion, that is correct.
- Wir gehen nach Hause.We are going home.
Grammar
| Case | dative |
|---|---|
| Contraction | nach + dem = nachm (colloquial) |
Always takes the dative case. With masculine or neuter nouns, 'nach dem' is often contracted to 'nachm' in spoken German.
Common phrases
- nach Hausehome (direction)
- nach wie vorstill, as before
- je nachdemdepending on
- nach und nachlittle by little, gradually
The mistake English speakers make
Using 'nach' for countries with an article (e.g. die Schweiz, die Türkei). Use 'in' + article instead: 'in die Schweiz', 'in die Türkei'.
Don’t confuse it with
- zu — 'zu' is used for going to a person, a place with an article, or an activity, e.g. 'zu meiner Freundin', 'zum Arzt', 'zur Arbeit'. 'nach' is for cities/countries without article and for 'home'.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'nach' and 'zu'?
'Nach' is used for cities and countries without an article, and in 'nach Hause'. 'Zu' is used for people, places with an article, and activities, e.g. 'zu meiner Freundin', 'zum Arzt', 'zur Arbeit'.
When do I use 'nach' vs 'in' for countries?
Use 'nach' for countries without an article (e.g. nach Deutschland, nach Frankreich). Use 'in' for countries with an article (e.g. in die Schweiz, in die Türkei, in den Iran).
What does 'nach dem' mean?
'Nach dem' can mean 'after the' (temporal) or 'according to the' (as in 'nach dem Gesetz'). It is used with masculine or neuter nouns in the dative case, e.g. 'nach dem Essen' (after the meal).