This German prepositions chart gives you everything you need to finally understand how Präpositionen control cases, meaning, and word order. Prepositions are small words like in, mit, and für, yet they decide whether a whole sentence sounds native or clumsy. Below, you will find organized tables, plenty of real examples, and practical memory tricks that most textbooks skip.

Unlike a plain word list, this guide groups every preposition by the grammatical case it triggers—accusative, dative, genitive, or two-way. Once you see the pattern, the guesswork disappears.

Why a German Prepositions Chart Matters

In German, each preposition forces the noun after it into a specific case. That case then changes the article and sometimes the adjective ending. Get the case wrong, and the sentence still works—but it marks you instantly as a learner.

Because English has almost no case system, this feels unnatural at first. However, a well-built German prepositions chart turns an abstract rule into a visual habit. You stop translating and start reaching for the right form automatically.

• Accuracy: Correct cases make you sound fluent and precise.
• Speed: Grouped charts train fast recall during conversation.
• Confidence: Predictable rules reduce hesitation when you speak.

Accusative Prepositions

These prepositions always take the accusative case, no matter the context. A classic mnemonic is “FUDGEBO” (für, um, durch, gegen, entlang, bis, ohne). Memorize this group first, because it never changes.

Notice how der becomes den for masculine nouns. Feminine, neuter, and plural articles look the same in the accusative as the nominative, so masculine is the one to watch.

Dative Prepositions

The dative group also stays fixed. Learners often sing them to the tune of “The Blue Danube”: aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu. Add gegenüber and you have the full set.

Contractions are common and expected: zu dem becomes zum, zu der becomes zur, and bei dem becomes beim. Native speakers use these constantly, so treat them as normal, not slang.

Two-Way (Wechselpräpositionen) Prepositions

Here is where most learners stumble—and where this German prepositions chart helps most. Nine prepositions switch between accusative and dative depending on meaning.

The rule is simple once you internalize it:

1. Movement toward a destination → accusative (answers wohin? / where to?).
2. Location or movement within a place → dative (answers wo? / where?).

A quick test: if you could add “into” or “onto” in English, you probably need the accusative. If you would say “in” or “on” with no movement, use the dative.

Genitive Prepositions

The genitive prepositions sound formal and appear often in writing, news, and academic German. In casual speech, many speakers replace them with dative alternatives, but you should still recognize them.

Tip from real teaching experience: master the four above first. They cover roughly 90% of the genitive prepositions you will actually meet in modern German.

How to Memorize the German Prepositions Chart Faster

Charts only work when you actually drill them. These field-tested methods speed up recall dramatically.

• Chunk by case: Learn one group per week, not all at once.
• Use physical motion: Act out wohin? and wo? to lock in two-way rules.
• Label your room: Sticky notes on real objects turn auf dem Tisch into a habit.
• Speak in full phrases: Memorize mit dem Zug, not just mit.

For a broader foundation, pair this chart with our guide to German grammar basics on The Cognitio blog, and practice live with a certified German tutor who can correct your cases in real time.

You can also cross-check any word in a trusted dictionary such as the DWDS German dictionary or read more on the grammar background at Wikipedia’s German grammar page.

Quick Comparison: All Four Case Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

How many prepositions are in a German prepositions chart?

A complete German prepositions chart usually lists around 30 to 40 common prepositions, sorted into four case groups: accusative, dative, two-way, and genitive. You only need about 20 for everyday conversation, so focus on the high-frequency ones first.

What are the two-way prepositions in German?

The nine two-way (Wechsel) prepositions are in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, and zwischen. They take the accusative when there is movement toward a place (wohin?) and the dative when they describe a fixed location (wo?).

Do I really need to learn the genitive prepositions?

Yes, but start small. Learn während, wegen, trotz, and statt for reading and formal writing. In everyday spoken German, many people swap them for the dative, so they will still understand you if you use wegen dem instead of wegen des.

What is the easiest way to remember German cases after prepositions?

Use mnemonics and full phrases together. Memorize accusative prepositions with “FUDGEBO,” sing the dative group, and always store examples like mit dem Bus rather than isolated words. Regular speaking practice with a tutor cements the patterns fastest.

Start Speaking Confident German

A German prepositions chart is a powerful map, but fluency comes from using it out loud. Book a personalized session with a friendly, experienced German tutor at The Cognitio and turn these tables into natural, confident speech—one conversation at a time.