German Grammar Explained /
Local adverbs
Wo bist du?
Ich bin draußen. (I'm outside.)
Wo gehst du hin?
Ich gehe raus. (I'm going out.)
"To be" or "to go"... that matters in German!
Local adverbs give a location description, which can change depending on whether there is a movement towards a place or a stationary location description.
(he)raus
(out, outside) | ←→ | (he)rein
(in, inside) |
(he)rauf
(up, upstairs) | ←→ | (he)runter
(down, downstairs) |
(he)rüber
(over there) | ←→ | -- |
heraus draußen
(outside) | ←→ | herein drinnen
(inside) |
herauf oben
(up, upstairs) | ←→ | herunter unten
(down, downstairs) |
herüber drüben
(over there) | ←→ | -- |
raus, rein, rauf, runter and rüber are the colloquial versions of heraus, herein, herauf, herunter and herüber, which are used in spoken, everyday language.
Paul is outside in the garden, his wife is in the living room...
Paul, wo bist du?
Draußen.
Komm bitte kurz rein.
Warte kurz, ich komme gleich wieder.
Wohin gehst du?
Ich gehe zum Nachbarn rüber.