Local Dative Prepositions in German

When you're describing where something is — not where it's going — German reaches for a fixed set of prepositions paired with the dative case. In this lesson, we cover all 9 local dative prepositions, when to use each one, and how they answer the question wo? (where?).

The 9 Local Dative Prepositions

auf (on), an (at/on the side of), vor (in front of), hinter (behind), über (above/over), unter (under), zwischen (between), neben (next to), in (in/inside). Used with dative, all nine describe a location — something not moving — and answer wo?

Wo? — Location, Not Direction

Compare: Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table — dative, wo?) vs. Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I put the book on the table — accusative, wohin?, since here it's motion toward a destination). This dative-vs-accusative split with the same preposition is exactly why it helps to be solid on Akkusativ before tackling these.

A Quick Example

Die Katze sitzt zwischen dem Sofa und dem Tisch. (The cat sits between the sofa and the table.) Der Schlüssel liegt neben dem Telefon. (The key lies next to the phone.) In every example, the noun after the preposition takes dative endings because nothing is moving — the object is simply located there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 9 local dative prepositions in German?

Auf, an, vor, hinter, über, unter, zwischen, neben, and in.

When do these prepositions take dative instead of accusative?

When they describe a fixed location (answering wo? — where?) rather than movement toward a destination (wohin?).

What question do local dative prepositions answer?

Wo? — meaning “where,” as in “where is it located.”

Can the same preposition take both dative and accusative?

Yes — prepositions like auf, an, in, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, and zwischen are “two-way” prepositions that take dative for location and accusative for movement toward a destination.

What's an example sentence using a local dative preposition?

Die Katze sitzt zwischen dem Sofa und dem Tisch (The cat sits between the sofa and the table) — zwischen + dative because the cat isn't moving.

Ready to master every German preposition with clear examples like these? Explore our A1 German course.