über
over, above (location, no movement) · over, across (movement) · about, concerning · more than, over (quantity)
Über is a common German preposition meaning 'over', 'above', or 'about'. It can describe physical position, movement across something, or the topic of a conversation. It is used with both the accusative and dative cases depending on whether there is motion or location.
What über means
- over, above (location, no movement) — Used with the dative case to indicate a static position higher than something else.
- over, across (movement) — Used with the accusative case to indicate movement from one side to another or crossing something.
- about, concerning — Used with the accusative case to indicate the topic of speech, thought, or writing.
- more than, over (quantity) — Used before numbers or amounts to mean 'more than'.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where über was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Es flog über dem Regenbogen.It flew above the rainbow.
Example sentences
- Das Bild hängt über dem Sofa.The picture hangs above the sofa.
- Wir fliegen über die Berge.We are flying over the mountains.
- Sie spricht über ihre Arbeit.She talks about her work.
- Das kostet über hundert Euro.That costs over a hundred euros.
Grammar
| Case | Accusative (motion/topic) or Dative (location) |
|---|---|
| Contraction | über + das = übers (colloquial) |
Use accusative for movement or topic, dative for static location.
Common phrases
- überalleverywhere
- überhaupt nichtnot at all
- über Nachtovernight
- über und übercompletely, all over
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often use 'über' with the wrong case. Remember: use dative for location (no movement) and accusative for movement or topic.
Don’t confuse it with
- auf — Auf means 'on' (contact with a surface), while über means 'above' or 'over' (no contact).
- oberhalb — Oberhalb is more formal and always takes the genitive, meaning 'above' in a spatial sense.
Questions learners ask
When do I use accusative or dative with 'über'?
Use dative when describing a static location (where something is), and accusative when describing movement or a topic (what something is about).
Can 'über' mean 'about'?
Yes, 'über' is commonly used to mean 'about' when talking about a topic, e.g., 'Wir reden über das Wetter' (We are talking about the weather).
What is the difference between 'über' and 'auf'?
'Über' means 'above' or 'over' without contact, while 'auf' means 'on' with contact, e.g., 'Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch' (The book is on the table) vs. 'Die Lampe hängt über dem Tisch' (The lamp hangs above the table).