Going Places: an / op / bei
Going Places: An, Op and Bei
An for going into a place: an de Kino. Op for many public places and towns: op d'Aarbecht, op Paräis. Bei for people: bei den Dokter.
How It Works
An: into a place
Use an for buildings and areas you go into, and for countries: an de Kino, an d'Schoul, an d'Stad, a Frankräich, an d'Belsch. By the n-rule, an becomes a before most consonants.
Op: work, public places, events and towns
Use op for many places you go to for a purpose: op d'Aarbecht, op de Maart, op d'Bank, op d'Post, op d'Uni, op d'Kiermes. It is also the word for going to a town, both in Luxembourg and abroad: op Esch, op Tréier, op Paräis.
Bei: to a person
Use bei to go to someone: bei den Dokter, bei de Coiffeur, bei d'Bomi, bei eis. The accusative shows movement: Ech gi bei den Dokter, but Ech si beim Dokter.
Going there or being there
For the location, the same prepositions take the dative, often contracted: am Kino, op der Aarbecht, beim Dokter. For being in a town, use zu + town: Ech wunnen zu Esch, but Ech fueren op Esch. For home, use heem and doheem. See also two-way prepositions and am/um/vum/mam/beim.
Examples (6)
- Ech ginn an de Kino.
I am going to the cinema.
Word by Word: I go into the cinema.
Going into a building takes an with the accusative.
- Meng Schwëster fiert mam Bus an d'Schoul.
My sister takes the bus to school.
Word by Word: My sister drives with-the bus into the school.
School takes an: an d'Schoul.
- Hie muss nach séier op d'Bank.
He still has to pop to the bank.
Word by Word: He must still quickly onto the bank.
The bank takes op. The verb of movement can be left out after muss.
- Mir fueren eemol am Joer e Weekend op Paräis.
Once a year we go to Paris for a weekend.
Word by Word: We drive once in-the year a weekend onto Paris.
Going to a town takes op.
- Ech gi bei den Dokter, well ech de Bauch wéi hunn.
I am going to the doctor because I have a stomach ache.
Word by Word: I go at the doctor, because I the belly sore have.
Going to a person takes bei with the accusative den Dokter.
- Ech ginn de Mëtteg op Esch bei den Dokter.
This afternoon I am going to Esch to see the doctor.
Word by Word: I go the afternoon onto Esch at the doctor.
Op names the town and bei names the person you are going to.
Common Mistakes
Using zu for going to a town.
Muer fueren ech zu Esch.Muer fueren ech op Esch.The intended meaning is going to Esch. Zu Esch says where you are; for going there, use op.
Using the dative contraction beim when you are going to a person.
Ech gi beim Dokter.Ech gi bei den Dokter.Beim Dokter means at the doctor's. When you go there, bei takes the accusative: bei den Dokter.
Using the dative for movement with op.
Ech ginn op der Aarbecht.Ech ginn op d'Aarbecht.Op der Aarbecht says where you are. When you go there, op takes the accusative d'Aarbecht.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Going Places: An, Op and Bei, learn Two-Way Prepositions and In a Town: Zu.
Related Patterns
- heem / doheemHome: Heem and Doheem
For home, Luxembourgish uses heem (going) and doheem (being there).
Level 1 - am / um / vum / mam / beimPreposition and Article Contractions
The location forms am Kino, um Maart and beim Dokter are contractions.
Level 2 - wou / wuerWhere and Where to: Wou and Wuer
These phrases answer the question wuer? (where to?).
Level 1 - goenTo Go: Goen
Goen and fueren are the verbs most often used with an, op and bei.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Going Places: an / op / bei in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Luxembourgish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
