German word

zu

Pronunciation

IPA/tsuː/

Meaning

  • prepositionto

Example

Ich gehe zu dir.

I'm going to your place.

Illustration for zu (to)

More examples

Kommst du zu mir?

Are you coming to my place?

Core concept

A route points toward a person or destination, with the endpoint in focus rather than the inside of a place.

Common phrases

  • zu mir

    to my place

  • zu dem Bahnhof

    to the station

  • zu dem Arzt

    to the doctor

Similar words

nach: Traveling toward a country, city, or compass point.
in: Entering a building or room.
bei: Being at someone's place or near a shop or other location.

Definition in German

Zeigt Bewegung oder Ziel zu einem Ort oder zu einer Person an und steht mit dem Dativ.

Word origin

German zu developed from Old High German zuo and Middle High German zu, from Proto-Germanic *to, the same Germanic source related to English to.

Usage tips

  • The destination appears in the dative, as in zu mir, zu dir, or zu dem Arzt, never with the accusative form zu mich or zu dich.

Other meanings

  • atpreposition

Opposites

  • vonfrompreposition

Word lists with this word