zu.
to, towards (indicates directionality)
Meaning & usage
to, towards (indicates directionality)
zum Bahnhof
with respect to; regarding
Zu Punkt 1 möchte ich bemerken, dass...
along with; with (accompanying (the main thing in question))
Wasser zum Essen trinken
at, on (indicates location)
zu Hause
at (indicates time)
zur richtigen Zeit
zu Beginn
by, in, on, at (indicates mode (of transportation, speech, etc.))
zu Pferde
for; (with a noun) as, by way of (for the purpose of)
for (in honor of, or directed towards the celebration or event of)
into (indicates transition into another form or substance)
as, for, to be (to take on the role of)
to (used to indicate ratios)
at (denotes a price or rate)
Where this word comes from
From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō. A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.
too (excessively)
zu schnell
An intensifier.
Dieses Essen ist zu lecker!
towards; at
shut; closed; locked
ahead, on (along, forwards (continuing an action))
As a separated part of dazu or wozu
"Wann willst du denn los?" "Um 10? Nur wenn du da Lust zu hast."
Where this word comes from
From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō. A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.
shut, closed (made inaccessible or impassable; not open)
Das Geschäft war zu.
Die Tür muss aus Brandschutzgründen immer zu sein.
closed (not operating or conducting trade)
done up (fastened)
hammered; very drunk
Where this word comes from
From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō. A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.
to
etwas zu essen
nichts zu tun haben
in a group of (a certain head count)
zu zweit
Wir waren zu zehnt.
Where this word comes from
From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō. A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.