Common German Contractions You Should Know
If you want to sound like a real German speaker, there’s one powerful trick to keep in mind: use contractions.
In German, many prepositions combine with definite articles like der, die, das, dem, or den. Instead of saying in das, native speakers say ins. Instead of zu dem, it becomes zum. These contractions make your German sound smoother, more natural, and more fluent.
In this post, we’ll show you the most common German contractions — when to use them, how to form them, and where they’re appropriate (spoken or written).
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What Are German Contractions?
When a preposition and a definite article come together in a sentence, German often combines them into a single word.
Examples:
- in das → ins
- zu dem → zum
- bei dem → beim
Let’s break these down and look at real examples.
Most Common German Contractions (Preposition + Article)
| Full Form | Contraction | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| in das | ins | Ich gehe ins Kino. | I’m going to the cinema. |
| in dem | im | Ich bin im Garten. | I’m in the garden. |
| zu dem | zum | Wir gehen zum Bäcker. | We’re going to the baker. |
| zu der | zur | Bernd geht zur Apotheke. | Bernd is going to the pharmacy. |
| an das | ans | Wir fahren ans Meer. | We’re driving to the sea. |
| an dem | am | Wir sitzen am Strand. | We’re sitting on the beach. |
| bei dem | beim | Sie ist beim Arzt. | She is at the doctor’s. |
| von dem | vom | Ich komme vom Bäcker. | I’m coming from the baker. |
Spoken German Contractions (Informal Use)
These are common in everyday conversation but should be avoided in formal or written German.
| Full Form | Contraction | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| durch das | durchs | Er klettert durchs Fenster. | He’s climbing through the window. |
| für das | fürs | Ich habe etwas fürs Auto gekauft. | I bought something for the car. |
| um das | ums | Sie geht ums Haus. | She’s going around the house. |
| unter dem | unterm | Die Katze sitzt unterm Tisch. | The cat is sitting under the table. |
| über dem | überm | Die Lampe hängt überm Tisch. | The lamp is hanging above the table. |
| hinter dem | hinterm | Das Kind sitzt hinterm Sofa. | The child is sitting behind the sofa. |
| vor dem | vorm | Sie warten vorm Kino. | They’re waiting in front of the cinema. |
| aus dem | ausm | Ich komme ausm Supermarkt. | I’m coming from the supermarket. |
In this video, Jenny breaks down one of the most important grammar tricks in spoken German: preposition + article contractions like ins, zum, beim, and more.
Important Notes
- Contractions only happen with definite articles – der, die, das, dem, den.
- You don’t contract with ein, mein, dein, etc.
- Some contractions (like aufm, ausm) are only used in spoken German.
- Using contractions makes you sound more fluent and natural.
Ready to Level Up?
Understanding and using these contractions is a simple yet powerful way to boost your fluency and sound more like a native speaker. Try slipping them into your everyday conversations — whether you’re chatting with friends, watching German TV shows, or writing short texts. The more naturally they come to you, the more confident and authentic your German will feel.
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