German word

von

Pronunciation

IPA/fɔn/

Meaning

  • prepositionfrom

Example

Ich komme von der Arbeit.

I'm coming from work.

Illustration for von (from)

More examples

Ich habe ein Geschenk von meiner Mutter bekommen.

I got a present from my mother.

Core concept

A tag connecting something to the person, place, or action it comes from or is linked to.

Common phrases

  • von der Arbeit

    from work

  • von zu Hause

    from home

  • von meiner Mutter

    from my mother

Similar words

aus: Indicates movement from within a place or object to the outside.
ab: Indicates that something starts at a specified time and continues afterward.

Definition in German

von ist eine Präposition, die Herkunft, Zugehörigkeit oder den Urheber einer Handlung bezeichnet.

Word origin

The modern form von continues Old High German fon and fona, with the same basic source and association functions preserved through Middle High German.

Usage tips

  • In passive clauses, von commonly introduces the agent, while durch more often presents a means or cause.

Other meanings

  • ofpreposition
  • bypreposition

Opposites

  • bisuntilpreposition

Word lists with this word