When to use von vs. aus in German: A Simple Guide

DativPrepositions

Jun 20

German prepositions can be confusing, even for advanced students. Two small but important words are von and aus. Both can mean “from” in English, but in German they are used in different situations. This clear guide explains when to use each one, shows you helpful examples, and gives you a simple rule to remember them.

Recommended study materials on the topic:

A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
B-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
Accusative or Dative wheel

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What does aus mean in German?

Aus is mostly used when you talk about coming from inside a place, where something originates, or what something is made of. Think of it like moving out of something.

Main uses of aus:

1) Place of origin:

Ich komme aus Berlin. — I come from Berlin.
Er kommt aus der Schweiz. — He comes from Switzerland.
(Note: Many countries need an article: aus der Schweiz, aus den USA.)

2) Exiting a place:

Er geht aus dem Haus. — He is leaving the house.
Sie schaut aus dem Fenster. — She is looking out of the window.

3) Material:

Der Ring ist aus Gold. — The ring is made of gold.
Die Flasche ist aus Glas. — The bottle is made of glass.

4) Cause or reason (less common):

Aus Liebe hat er ihr geholfen. — He helped her out of love.
Aus Angst hat er gelogen. — He lied out of fear.

Grammar:

Aus is always followed by the dative case.

For example: aus dem Haus (not aus das Haus).

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What does von mean in German?

Von is used when you want to show who or what something comes from, ownership, or the agent in passive sentences. It answers “from whom?” or “by whom?”

Main uses of von:

1) Source or sender:

Der Brief ist von meinem Bruder. — The letter is from my brother.
Eine Nachricht von Anna. — A message from Anna.

2) Authorship:

Ein Gemälde von Picasso. — A painting by Picasso.
Ein Buch von Goethe. — A book by Goethe.

3) Possession or belonging (mostly replacement for the Genitive case):

Das Auto von meinem Vater. — My father’s car.
Die Tasche von Maria. — Maria’s bag.

4) Passive voice:

Der Kuchen wurde von meiner Mutter gebacken. — The cake was baked by my mother.

5) Part of something:

Ein Stück von dem Kuchen. — A piece of the cake.
Ein Freund von mir. — A friend of mine.

Grammar:
Von also uses the dative case.

For example: von dem Mann (which is often contracted to vom Mann).

Why do German learners mix up von and aus?

It’s easy to confuse them because in English both can translate to “from.” But in German, the meaning is more precise:

Use aus when something moves out of a physical space, when you say where you come from, or what something is made of.
Use von when you say who gave or made something, who it belongs to, or when you need "by" in the passive voice.

Understanding this difference helps you sound more natural and avoid common mistakes in conversation and writing.

Remember: Use aus for coming out of a place or origin; use von for people, authors, or when you mean "by" or "from someone."

Bonus: Common Expressions

Some useful expressions:

aus Liebe — out of love
aus Spaß — for fun
von Anfang an — from the beginning
von Zeit zu Zeit — from time to time
vom Herzen — from the heart
aus dem Weg gehen — to get out of the way

Learning these phrases will help you remember the typical feeling of each word.

Conclusion

Learning when to use von and aus in German helps you speak and write more accurately. Remember: use aus for origin and movement out of a place, and von for people, sources, or “by” in passive sentences. With a little practice, you’ll choose the right one without even thinking about it!

Both von and aus always take the dative case. To get even more comfortable with this, check out our article on German dative prepositions it’s full of helpful examples and explanations!

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