How To Say From In German: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Say "From" in German: A Complete Guide

Ever found yourself staring at a German sentence, wondering which preposition to use for "from"? That little word in English actually has several different translations in German, each with its own rules and contexts. Even so, get it wrong, and you might sound a bit strange to native speakers. Day to day, you're not alone. Get it right, and your German will suddenly sound much more natural. Not complicated — just consistent.

What Is "From" in German

Unlike English, where we have just one word for "from," German uses several different prepositions depending on what exactly you're talking about. Also, there's no one-size-fits-all translation. Still, the most common translations for "from" in German are von, aus, seit, and ab. Each of these has specific uses and contexts where they're appropriate.

Think of it this way: in English, we say "from Germany," "from 9 AM," and "from my friend" all using the same preposition. But in German, you'd use different prepositions for each of these examples. That's because German prepositions are more specific about the relationship between things.

The Core Concept

The key to understanding "from" in German is recognizing that it's not just about direction. It can indicate origin, source, time period, starting point, and more. Each of these concepts might use a different preposition in German.

Why Multiple Prepositions?

German evolved with these distinctions for a reason. They help clarify exactly what kind of "from" relationship you're talking about. Using the right preposition makes your meaning more precise, which is why German has developed different words for different contexts of "from.

Why It Matters

Using the wrong preposition for "from" in German can lead to confusion or make you sound unnatural to native speakers. It's one of those small details that separate basic German from more fluent, natural-sounding German.

When you get these prepositions right, your German improves dramatically. Suddenly, people understand you more easily. Even so, your writing becomes more accurate. Most importantly, you start thinking in German rather than translating from English.

Real-World Impact

Imagine telling someone you're "from" a city and using the wrong preposition. Or explaining when something starts and mixing up time-related prepositions. Small mistakes like these can cause misunderstandings or make you seem less proficient than you actually are.

Building Blocks of Fluency

Mastering these prepositions is like unlocking a new level in your German learning journey. They appear constantly in everyday conversation, writing, and media. Once you understand them, you'll notice them everywhere, and your comprehension will improve significantly.

How It Works

Let's break down the main German prepositions that translate to "from" in English. Each has its own rules and contexts where it's used.

von (The Most Common)

Von is probably the most versatile and frequently used preposition for "from" in German. It's your go-to choice for:

Origin of people: "Ich komme von meinem Freund." (I come from my friend.)
Origin of things: "Das Geschenk ist von meiner Mutter." (The gift is from my mother.)
Starting points in abstract contexts: "Alles von Anfang an." (Everything from the beginning.)

Von is also used in many common phrases and expressions, making it essential to learn early on.

aus (For Places and Countries)

Aus is specifically used for coming from physical places, especially countries, cities, and smaller regions. Think of it as the "from" for locations.

"Sie kommt aus Deutschland." (She comes from Germany.)
"Wir fahren aus dem Dorf." (We're driving from the village.)
"Das Wasser aus dem Fluss." (The water from the river.)

Aus is not typically used for people (you'd use von for that) or for time expressions.

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seit (For Time Periods)

When you're talking about a duration of time starting from a certain point, seit is your preposition of choice.

"Ich lerne Deutsch seit einem Jahr." (I've been learning German for a year.)
"Das Restaurant ist seit letzter Woche geschlossen." (The restaurant has been closed since last week.)
"Sie arbeitet seit 2010 hier." (She's been working here since 2010.)

Seit indicates that something started at a specific time in the past and continues up to now.

ab (Starting From a Point in Time)

Ab is used for indicating a starting point in time, but it's different from seit. While seit emphasizes duration from a point until now, ab simply marks when something starts.

"Der Laden ist ab 8 Uhr geöffnet." (The store is open from 8 AM.)
"Die Konferenz beginnt ab morgen." (The conference starts from tomorrow.)
"Das Angebot gilt ab nächster Woche." (The offer is valid from next week.)

Ab doesn't imply that something continues until now—it just marks a starting point.

von... bis... (From...To...)

When you want to express a range from one point to another, you'll use the combination von...bis*.

"Das Geschäft ist von Montag bis Freitag geöffnet." (The store is open from Monday to Friday.)
"Wir sind von 9 Uhr bis 5 Uhr im Büro." (We're in the office from 9 AM to 5 PM.)
"Der Zug fährt von Berlin bis München." (The train goes from Berlin to Munich.)

This structure is straightforward but incredibly useful for expressing time and location ranges.

her (Direction Toward the Speaker)

Her is used when movement is directed toward the speaker. It's often combined with other prepositions like von to indicate direction.

"Komm her!" (Come here!)
"Das Paket kommt her." (The package is coming from there/here.)
"Sie kam herüber." (She came over here.)

Her indicates movement toward the speaker's location, which is a specific directional use of "from."

aus (Material Origin)

We've already mentioned aus for places, but it's also used to indicate the material something is made from.

"Der Tisch ist aus Holz." (The table is made of wood.)
"Die Suppe ist aus Gemüse." (The soup is made from vegetables.)
"Das Kleid ist aus Seide." (The dress is made of silk.)

This use of aus connects to the idea of origin—where something comes from in terms of composition.