← All chapters

A1-36 · Choose a destination

Where are you going?

Ask wohin, use nach and zu for destinations, and use the accusative after in when going into a place.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

Two friends look at a travel map beside packed bags, with a small house visible through a window.

01

Travel to a city or go home

Wohin asks where to. Use nach before city names and most country names without an article: nach Berlin, nach Deutschland. Nach Hause means home as a destination.

Wohin fährst du?

Where are you going?

Ich fahre nach Berlin.

I am going to Berlin.

Wir fahren nach Deutschland.

We are going to Germany.

Ich gehe nach Hause.

I am going home.

Compare Ich bin zu Hause, I am at home, with Ich gehe nach Hause, I am going home.

Adults enter a cinema while another person walks toward a park gate in a town street.

02

Go into a place

For a destination inside a place, in takes the accusative. Der Park becomes in den Park; die Stadt becomes in die Stadt; das Kino becomes in das Kino, usually ins Kino.

Wir gehen in den Park.

We are going into the park.

Mara fährt in die Stadt.

Mara is going into town.

Ben geht ins Kino.

Ben is going to the cinema.

Ben ist im Kino.

Ben is in the cinema.

Compare location im Kino with destination ins Kino. The question is where you are versus where you are going.

A woman walks toward a friend waiting at an apartment doorway while a clinic stands nearby.

03

Go to someone or a place

Zu takes the dative, even for a destination. Zu dem becomes zum and zu der becomes zur. Use zu for visits to people and many everyday destinations.

Ich gehe zum Arzt.

I am going to the doctor.

Mara geht zur Freundin.

Mara is going to her female friend’s place.

Wir gehen zu dem Bahnhof.

We are going to the station.

Ich bin zu Hause.

I am at home.

Say zum Arzt and zur Freundin. Zu names a destination without stressing going inside. It does not follow the in-plus-accusative pattern.

Ready to try it?

Check what you remember with 12 short questions.