Contractions simplify sentences by combining prepositions with definite articles and joining it together into one new word. In the process, some letters of the original words get eliminated or changed. The meaning does not change. Take a look at the following examples:
Ich gehe in das Büro. (I am going to the office.)→ Ich gehe ins Büro. (I am going to the office.)
Der Mann ist in dem Park. (The man is in the park.)→ Der Mann ist im Park. (The man is in the park.)
Sie steht an dem Ticketschalter. (She is standing at the ticket counter.)→ Sie steht am Ticketschalter. (She is standing at the ticket counter.)
No contractions when the noun is further specified
There is one case when contractions should not be used: whenever you add information to the noun that the definite article is referring to. In this case, the original structure should be kept. In the example below, the speaker is referring to one particular bakery or cinema.
Bei dem Bäcker, zu dem ich immer gehe, war heute alles ausverkauft. (At the bakery I always go to, everything was sold out today.)
In dem Kino, in dem wir vor einem Monat waren, kommt heute ein interessanter Film. (An interesting film is playing at the cinema where we went a month ago today.)
Even when you do not explicitly add additional information, but you want to imply that you are talking about one specific thing, you should keep the preposition and article as it is.
Ich esse heute beim Italiener. (I’m eating at the Italian restaurant today.)
Ich esse heute bei dem Italiener. (I’m eating at the Italian restaurant today.)
Literally translated, both sentences would be the same in English. However the first one suggests it is just any Italian restaurant, whereas the second one hints that it is one specific restaurant that might already be known or mentioned earlier.
To match the meaning and nuance better, you could also translate the first sentence as “I’m eating at an Italian restaurant today” and the second sentence as “I’m eating at that Italian restaurant today”.
Overview of German contractions
|
Original |
Contraction |
Translation |
Example German |
Example translation |
|
an + dem |
am |
on the / at the |
Ich bin am Flughafen. |
I’m at the airport. |
|
an + das |
ans |
to the |
Er geht ans Meer. |
He goes to the sea. |
|
auf + das |
aufs |
on the / at the |
Ich lege das Kissen aufs Bett. |
I put the pillow on the bed. |
|
bei + dem |
beim |
at the / with the |
Sie ist beim Arzt. |
She’s at the doctor. |
|
durch + das |
durchs |
through the |
Er geht durchs Fenster. |
He goes through the window. |
|
für + das |
fürs |
for the |
Das ist nur fürs Baby. |
That’s only for the baby. |
|
hinter + dem |
hinterm |
behind the |
Der Hund ist hinterm Baum. |
The dog is behind the tree. |
|
in + das |
ins |
in the / into the |
Wir gehen ins Kino. |
We’re going to the cinema. |
|
in + dem |
im |
at / in the |
Ich bin im Büro. |
I’m in the office. |
|
über + das |
übers |
over the / about the |
Sie fliegt übers Land. |
She flies over the country. |
|
um + das |
ums |
at the / around |
Viele Blumen wachsen ums Haus. |
Many flowers are growing around the house. |
|
unter + das |
unters |
under the |
Ich habe meine Brille unters Kissen gelegt. |
I put my glasses under the pillow. |
|
unter + dem |
unterm |
under the |
Die Katze schläft unterm Tisch. |
The cat is sleeping under the table. |
|
von + dem |
vom |
from the |
Ich bleibe vom 1. bis zum 12. Februar. |
I stay from February 1st to February 12th. |
|
vor + das |
vors |
in front of the |
Er stellt die Blumen vors Fenster. |
He puts the flowers in front of the window. |
|
vor + dem |
vorm |
in front of the / from |
Sie steht vorm Spiegel. |
She stands in front of the mirror. |
|
zu + dem |
zum |
to the / to |
Er geht zum Friseur. |
He goes to the hairdresser. |
|
zu + der |
zur |
to the / to |
Die Kinder gehen zur Schule. |
The kids are going to school. |
