German Prepositions: Accusative, Dative & Two-Way Prepositions

Prepositions are small words that pack a big punch in German. Unlike English, where prepositions are fairly straightforward, German prepositions directly control the case of the noun that follows them. Pick the wrong case and your sentence falls apart.

The good news? There are clear rules. Once you learn which prepositions go with which case — and memorize a few handy mnemonics — you will handle German prepositions with confidence.

This guide covers all three groups: accusative prepositions, dative prepositions, and the famous two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen). If you need a refresher on what cases are and how they work, start with our German cases explained guide first.

Which Prepositions Are Accusative in German?

There are five prepositions that always take the accusative case. No exceptions, no conditions — if you see one of these, the following noun is accusative.

The Mnemonic: DOGFU

Rearrange the first letters — Durch, Ohne, Gegen, Für, Um — and you get DOGFU. Picture a dog doing kung fu, and you will never forget the accusative prepositions again.

Another popular mnemonic is the phrase "Fudge on up" (Für, Um, Durch, Gegen, Ohne). Use whichever sticks in your memory.

Notice that accusative prepositions often involve movement through or around something, or a relationship directed toward something. That directional energy matches the accusative case, which marks the direct object — the target of an action.

Which Prepositions Are Dative in German?

Seven prepositions always take the dative case:

The Mnemonic: "Aus Bei Mit, Nach Seit Von Zu"

This one works best as a little chant. Say it out loud a few times with a rhythm: Aus-Bei-Mit, Nach-Seit-Von-Zu. Many German teachers sing it to the tune of the "Blue Danube" waltz. Once the rhythm is in your head, the dative prepositions are locked in forever.

You can also try the acronym AB MNSV Z — though the chant is far more memorable.

Dative prepositions often describe static relationships — being at a place, coming from somewhere, or being with someone. That sense of rest and connection fits the dative case, which marks the indirect object or the beneficiary of an action.

What Are Two-Way Prepositions in German?

This is where German prepositions get really interesting. Nine prepositions — called Wechselpräpositionen (two-way prepositions) — can take either the accusative or the dative. The case depends on meaning.

Here are all nine:

The Golden Rule: Movement vs. Location

The rule is beautifully simple:

• Accusative = movement toward a new location (direction). Ask: Wohin? (Where to?)
• Dative = staying in one location (position). Ask: Wo? (Where?)

Let's see this in action with in:

Ich gehe in die Küche. (I go into the kitchen.) — Accusative. Movement toward the kitchen.

Ich bin in der Küche. (I am in the kitchen.) — Dative. Already there, no movement.

And with auf:

Die Katze springt auf den Tisch. (The cat jumps onto the table.) — Accusative. The cat is changing location.

Die Katze sitzt auf dem Tisch. (The cat sits on the table.) — Dative. The cat is staying put.

And with an:

Er hängt das Bild an die Wand. (He hangs the picture on the wall.) — Accusative. The picture is moving to the wall.

Das Bild hängt an der Wand. (The picture hangs on the wall.) — Dative. The picture is already there.

Indicator Verbs

Certain verbs strongly signal one case or the other with two-way prepositions:

Accusative (movement) verbs: stellen (to place upright), legen (to lay down), setzen (to set/sit down), hängen (to hang up)

Dative (location) verbs: stehen (to stand), liegen (to lie), sitzen (to sit), hängen (to be hanging)

Notice the pattern: the accusative verbs describe putting something somewhere, while the dative verbs describe something being somewhere.

Ich stelle die Flasche auf den Tisch. (I place the bottle on the table.) — Accusative.

Die Flasche steht auf dem Tisch. (The bottle stands on the table.) — Dative.

Mnemonic for Two-Way Prepositions

Try this sentence: "An Auf Hinter In Neben Über Unter Vor Zwischen" — or shorten it to the first-letter pattern A-A-H-I-N-Ü-U-V-Z. Some learners remember the phrase: "An old hippo in new underwear, under very zealous supervision." It is silly, but silliness helps memory.

Quick Reference: All German Prepositions by Case

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using accusative with dative prepositions (and vice versa). Mit always takes dative — it is mit dem Auto, never mit das Auto.

2. Forgetting contractions. In everyday German, several preposition-article combinations merge: in dem → im, in das → ins, an dem → am, an das → ans, zu dem → zum, zu der → zur, bei dem → beim, von dem → vom. Using these contractions makes you sound more natural.

3. Translating directly from English. English "in" can be German in, an, auf, bei, or zu depending on context. Always think about the German preposition first, not the English one.

4. Overthinking two-way prepositions. When in doubt, ask yourself: is something moving to a new place (accusative) or already there (dative)? That simple question answers 90% of cases.

How to Practice German Prepositions

Reading about prepositions is a start, but you need active practice to make them automatic. Here are proven strategies:

Drill with games. Play Memory Match to pair prepositions with their correct cases. The repetition builds instinct faster than flashcards alone.

Test yourself. Take our German grammar quizzes to practice prepositions in context. You will get instant feedback on every answer.

Learn articles thoroughly. Prepositions change articles, so you need to know your der, die, das rules cold. If you are shaky on articles, fix that first.

Review cases regularly. Prepositions and cases are two sides of the same coin. Our German cases explained guide pairs perfectly with this one.

Start with the basics. If you are just beginning your grammar journey, our German grammar for beginners guide gives you the full foundation, and our adjective endings guide shows how cases affect adjectives too.

Keep Building Your German

German prepositions are one of those topics that reward consistent practice. The rules are logical — accusative for direction, dative for location, and fixed lists for the rest. Memorize the mnemonics, drill with real sentences, and you will master them faster than you think.

Ready to put your knowledge to the test?

• Play Memory Match at /games/memory-match to drill prepositions and cases
• Take a grammar quiz at /quizzes/grammatik for instant feedback
• Practice on the go — download the Deutschwunder app and train prepositions anywhere

Viel Erfolg beim Lernen! (Good luck with your learning!)

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More on Deutschwunder: German cases explained simply · Der, die, das rules · German grammar for beginners · German adjective endings guide