German word

über

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈyːbɐ/

Meaning

  • prepositionabout

Example

Wir sprechen über das Wetter.

We are talking about the weather.

Illustration for über (about)

More examples

Wir reden oft über den Film.

We often talk about the film.

Core concept

A line hangs over a subject, linking physical height with the area of thought or speech and with an unusually high degree.

Common phrases

  • über den Film

    about the film

  • über das Essen

    about the food

  • über die Arbeit

    about work

Similar words

von: Indicates the person or matter being referred to.

Definition in German

Einen Bezug zu einem Thema oder Inhalt ausdrückt (über + Akkusativ) und oft mit Verben wie sprechen oder diskutieren steht

Word origin

German über comes from Old High German ubar, related to English over, and its older sense of being above or crossing developed into the abstract topic sense.

Usage tips

  • As a preposition meaning about, über takes the accusative, as in über das Wetter; its adverbial use can also mean very.

Other meanings

  • overpreposition

Related words

Word lists with this word