# zu

zu is a German preposition meaning “to”.

## In other languages

- Русский: к, на, в
- Українська: до, на

## Preposition

1. to, towards (indicates directionality)
   - zum Bahnhof — to the train station
2. with respect to; regarding
   - Zu Punkt 1 möchte ich bemerken, dass... — With respect to item 1, let me remark that...
3. along with; with (accompanying (the main thing in question))
   - Wasser zum Essen trinken — to drink water with one’s meal
4. at, on (indicates location)
   - zu Hause — at home
5. by, in, on, at (indicates mode (of transportation, speech, etc.))
   - zu Pferde — on horseback
6. _with a verb_ for; (with a noun) as, by way of (for the purpose of)
7. into (indicates transition into another form or substance)
8. as, for, to be (to take on the role of)

## Particle

1. _with infinitives of verbs_ to
   - etwas zu essen — something to eat
2. _with uninflected ordinals_ in a group of (a certain head count)
   - zu zweit — as a pair, in a group of two
3. too
   - Wein ist mir zu ungesund.

## Adverb

1. _with adjectives and adverbs_ too (excessively)
   - zu schnell — too fast
2. _slang_ An intensifier.
   - Dieses Essen ist zu lecker! — This food tastes so good!
3. towards; at
4. _colloquial_ shut; closed; locked
5. ahead, on (along, forwards (continuing an action))
6. _colloquial_ As a separated part of dazu or wozu
   - "Wann willst du denn los?" "Um 10? Nur wenn du da Lust zu hast." — "When did you wanna go?" "At 10? Only if you're up for it."

## Adjective

1. _indeclinable · colloquial · predicative_ shut, closed (made inaccessible or impassable; not open)
   - Das Geschäft war zu. — The shop was closed.
2. _indeclinable · predicative_ done up (fastened)
3. _indeclinable · predicative · slang_ hammered; very drunk

## Examples

- Was hat das mit mir zu tun? — Where do I come in?
- Ich bin auf dem Weg zu Tom. — I'm going to Tom's house.
- Er geht zu Fuß in die Schule. — He goes to school on foot.
- Tom geht um halb elf zu Bett. — Tom goes to bed at 10:30.
- Sag mir, ob Tom zu Hause ist. — Tell me if Tom's in.

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Sources: Meanings and forms from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).
URL: https://wordwide.space/de-en/wort/zu