How to Use “nach”, “zu” and “in” in German: A Clear Guide for Learners

One of the most common challenges for German learners is choosing the right preposition when talking about going somewhere. Should you say ich gehe nach Hause, ich gehe zu Hans, or ich gehe ins Kino? These choices are not random. They follow a clear logic based on the type of destination.

This guide explains the differences in simple, practical language, with examples you can use immediately.

Learn German with Prepositions

1. nach – for countries, cities, and Hause

Use nach when the destination is a country or city that does not have an article, or when you are talking about “home” as your place of living.

Examples:

Ich fahre nach Deutschland. (I am travelling to Germany.)

Ich fliege nach Berlin. (I am flying to Berlin.)

Ich gehe nach Hause. (I am going home.)

Important: nach Hause is a fixed expression. Hause here refers to the idea of home, not the physical building.

Tip: If the place has no article → use nach.

How to use "zu"

2. zu – for people and institutions

Use zu when you are going to:

• a person

• a company, shop, service or institution

Examples:

Ich gehe zu Hans. (I am going to Hans.)

Ich gehe zum Arzt. (I am going to the doctor.)

Ich gehe zur Ärztin. (I am going to the female doctor.)

Ich gehe zum Bäcker. (I am going to the bakery.)

Ich gehe zum Deutschkurs. (I am going to the German class.) *at GermanMind of course 😀

The focus here is the person or service, not the building.

Tip: If your destination involves a person or a service → use zu.

3. in (ins, in die) – when you go inside a place

Use in when you are physically entering a building, room or enclosed space.

Examples:

Ich gehe ins Kino. (I am going into the cinema.)

Ich gehe in die Schule. (I am going into the school building.)

Ich gehe ins Büro. (I am going into the office.)

Ich gehe in die Stadt. (I am going into the city centre.)

Tip: If you imagine opening a door and walking inside → use in.

Practical Examples

Ich gehe zu Maria.

Ich fahre nach Deutschland.

Ich gehe ins Kino.

Ich gehe nach Hause.

Ich gehe zur Bank. (when you mean the service or appointment, not the building itself)

Ich gehe ins Bankgebäude. (when you want to emphasise going inside the physical building)

Common Mistakes

Ich gehe in Hause → incorrect

Correct: Ich gehe nach Hause.

Ich gehe zu Kino → incorrect

Correct: Ich gehe ins Kino.

Ich fahre zu Deutschland → incorrect

Correct: Ich fahre nach Deutschland.

Why This Matters

Using the correct preposition makes your German sound natural, confident and fluent. These small details change the tone of your speech from “textbook German” to everyday German.

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