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TOPIC · Prepositions (Präpositionen)

Distinguishing the German prepositions of place aus and von

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After this lesson you can confidently choose between aus and von in German when talking about origin and starting points.

In this lesson you learn how to use the German prepositions aus and von correctly when talking about origin or a starting point.

1Basic rule: Both with Dativ

  • aus and von always take the Dativ case.
  • Both answer the question „Woher?“ (from where? origin / starting point).

Examples:

  • Woher kommt Julia? – Sie kommt aus Deutschland.
    (Where is Julia from? – She is from Germany.)
  • Woher hast du das? – Ich habe es von meinem Freund.
    (Where did you get that? – I got it from my friend.)

2Use of aus

2.1 Coming from the inside / from a country or city

You use aus when someone or something comes from the inside of a place or from a country / city, or when this is their origin.

ExampleExplanation
aus Berlinwith cities without an article
aus Deutschlandwith countries without an article
aus der Türkeiwith countries that have an article
aus den USAwith countries in the plural
aus den Alpenwith mountain ranges
aus dem Kinowith enclosed spaces (cinema, supermarket)
aus dem Haussomeone comes out of a building

Further examples:

  • Ich komme aus Frankreich.
    (I am from France.)
  • Sie kommt aus dem Büro.
    (She comes out of the office.)

3Use of von

3.1 Starting point / source

You use von to highlight the starting point of a movement or the source of something.

ExampleExplanation
von Peterwith names of people
vom Arztshort form of von dem with professions
von der Lehrerinwith feminine professions
von der Universitätwith institutions
von der Insel Rügenwith islands
vom Bodenseewith lakes / bodies of water
vom Bahnhofstarting point of a movement

Further examples:

  • Ich komme vom Arzt.
    (I am coming from the doctor’s place / appointment.)
  • Er hat das Buch von seiner Schwester.
    (He got the book from his sister.)

4aus or von with places?

Sometimes both aus and von are possible, but the meaning changes slightly.

  • Ich komme aus Lindau.
    (Lindau is my hometown / origin.)
  • Ich komme von Lindau.
    (I am coming from Lindau now; it is my last starting point.)

More typical contrasts:

  • Sie kommt aus dem Kino.
    (She comes out of the cinema, from inside.)
  • Sie kommt vom Kino.
    (She comes from the cinema area / from being there.)

5Little memory tip

  • aus → from the inside of a place, from a country, city or building.
  • von → from a person, institution, island, body of water or starting point.

Practise building Woher ...? questions and decide each time: does someone come aus a place, or von a person or starting point?