TOPIC · Adverbs & particles

The Difference Between Außen, Draußen, and Raus in German

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After this lesson, you can clearly choose between außen, draußen, and raus and use each one correctly in simple German sentences.

In this lesson you will learn the difference between außen, draußen, and raus. All three are about “not inside”, but they belong to different situations: surface, outdoors, and movement to the outside.

Außen

außen describes something on the outside or on the surface of an object. It is usually a static location, not movement.

Typical questions: Wo? An welcher Seite? (Where? On which side?)

Examples with „außen“

Example	Meaning
Die Außenwand ist rot.	The outside wall is red.
Von außen sieht das Haus klein aus.	From the outside, the house looks small.
Das Auto ist außen sauber, aber innen schmutzig.	The car is clean on the outside but dirty inside.
Bitte nur außen streichen.	Please paint only the outside.

Note: Use außen for surfaces, shells, casings, etc. Something is on the outside of something else.

Draußen

draußen means “outside / outdoors”, i.e. not in a building or room. It describes a place under the open sky.

Typical questions: Wo? Drinnen oder draußen? (Where? Inside or outside?)

Examples with „draußen“

Example	Meaning
Wir spielen draußen.	We are playing outside.
Draußen ist es kalt.	It is cold outside.
Die Kinder warten draußen.	The children are waiting outside.
Bleib bitte draußen!	Please stay outside!

Note: draußen describes the location outdoors; it does not itself express movement.

Raus

raus is the colloquial short form of heraus or hinaus. It expresses movement from inside to outside.

Typical questions: Wohin? Von drinnen nach draußen? (Where to? From inside to outside?)

Examples with „raus“

Example	Meaning
Komm raus!	Come out!
Ich gehe jetzt raus.	I’m going out now.
Er will raus.	He wants to go out.
Wir müssen schnell raus!	We have to get out quickly!

Note: raus is very informal and usually appears with a movement verb like gehen, kommen, laufen, fahren.

Comparison: außen – draußen – raus

Funktion	außen	draußen	raus
Ort an der Außenseite	✓	–	–
Ort im Freien	–	✓	–
Bewegung nach draußen	–	–	✓

Summary:

außen: static location on the outside of something.
draußen: place outdoors, not inside a building.
raus: movement to the outside (colloquial, from heraus/hinaus).

summaryEn: After this lesson, you can clearly choose between außen, draußen, and raus and use each one correctly in simple German sentences.