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TOPIC · Prepositions (Präpositionen)

Wohin? Distinguishing nach, zu, in

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After this lesson you can confidently choose between „nach“, „zu“ and „in“ when answering „Wohin?“ in German.

In this lesson you learn how to choose between the German prepositions „nach“, „zu“ and „in“ when you answer the question „Wohin?“ (where to). All three express movement towards a goal, but the type of goal is different.

1Basic idea: Wohin? + Akkusativ

For directions in German you almost always use the accusative:

  • „Ich gehe in die Schule.“ (I am going into the school building.)
  • „Wir fahren in den Park.“ (We are driving into the park.)

„nach“ and „zu“ themselves never change; the noun after them follows normal case rules.

2„nach“ – countries, cities, directions

Use „nach“ for large geographic destinations without an article.

Typical uses:

  • Cities: „nach Berlin“, „nach Hamburg“
  • Countries without article: „nach Deutschland“, „nach Japan“
  • Cardinal directions: „nach Norden“, „nach Süden“
ExampleMeaning
Ich fahre nach Berlin.Movement towards a city
Sie reist nach Deutschland.Movement to a country without article
Wir gehen nach Süden.Movement in a compass direction
Er zieht nach Japan.Permanent move to another country

If the country has an article, you usually need „in“: „in die Schweiz“, „in die Türkei“, „in den Iran“.

3„zu“ – people, small places, events

„zu“ expresses movement towards a target point; the focus is reaching the person or place, not going inside.

Typical uses:

  • People: „zu meiner Freundin“, „zum Arzt“, „zu meinen Eltern“
  • Small concrete places: „zum Bäcker“, „zur Post“, „zum Bahnhof“
  • Events: „zur Party“, „zum Konzert“, „zur Sitzung“
ExampleMeaning
Ich gehe zu meiner Freundin.I am going to my (female) friend.
Sie fährt zu einem Meeting.She is going to a meeting.
Wir gehen zum Arzt.We are going to the doctor.
Er kommt zur Feier.He is coming to the party.

4„in“ – into rooms, buildings, countries with article

„in“ highlights that you go into an interior space or a bounded area.

Typical uses:

  • Buildings / rooms: „in die Schule“, „ins Restaurant“, „in die Wohnung“
  • Parks, enclosed places: „in den Park“, „ins Kino“
  • Countries with article: „in die Schweiz“, „in die Türkei“, „in den Iran“
ExampleMeaning
Ich gehe in die Schule.I go into the school building.
Sie geht ins Restaurant.She goes into the restaurant.
Wir fahren in den Park.We go/drive into the park.
Er kommt in die Wohnung.He comes into the flat/apartment.

5„zu“ or „in“?

Sometimes both are possible, but with different focus:

  • „Ich gehe zur Schule.“ → focus on the institution (as a student), general.

  • „Ich gehe in die Schule.“ → focus on entering the building.

  • „Wir gehen zum Restaurant.“ → target point, maybe just to meet there.

  • „Wir gehen ins Restaurant.“ → clearly going inside to stay there.

Key idea:

  • contact, person, institution: usually „zu“
  • going inside a room or area: „in“
  • cities, countries without article, directions: „nach“

After this lesson you can choose confidently between „nach“, „zu“ and „in“ when answering „Wohin?“ in German.