zu + Town

In a Town: Zu

Level 1

zu + town = in a town: Ech wunnen zu Lëtzebuerg. Si schafft zu Esch.

How It Works

Being in a town
Zu comes straight before the name, with no article:

  • Ech wunnen zu Lëtzebuerg. (I live in Luxembourg.) This works for both the country and the city.
  • Si schafft zu Esch. (She works in Esch.)
  • Hien huet zu Paräis studéiert. (He studied in Paris.) Towns abroad take zu too.

Going to a town
Zu is only for location. For movement to a town, use op: Mir fueren e Samschdeg op Esch. See going places: an/op/bei.

Countries

  • Most countries have no article and take an, which becomes a before most consonants by the n-rule: an Däitschland, a Frankräich. The same form is used for being there and going there.
  • Countries used with an article take an der for location and an d' for movement: Si wunnt an der Belsch, Ech fueren an d'Belsch. See two-way prepositions.

The city
People often call Luxembourg City simply d'Stad: Ech schaffen an der Stad (I work in town).

Examples (6)

  1. Ech wunnen zu Lëtzebuerg.

    I live in Luxembourg.

    Word by Word: I live in Luxembourg.

  2. Si schafft zu Esch.

    She works in Esch.

    Word by Word: She works in Esch.

  3. Hien huet zu Paräis studéiert.

    He studied in Paris.

    Word by Word: He has in Paris studied.

    Zu is used for towns abroad as well.

  4. Mir fueren e Samschdeg op Esch.

    We are going to Esch on Saturday.

    Word by Word: We drive on Saturday to Esch.

    For going to a town, op replaces zu.

  5. Meng Kolleegin wunnt an der Belsch.

    My colleague lives in Belgium.

    Word by Word: My colleague lives in the Belgium.

    D'Belsch has an article, so it takes an der for location.

  6. Ech war schonn dräimol a Frankräich.

    I have already been to France three times.

    Word by Word: I was already three-times in France.

    An becomes a before the F of Frankräich.

Common Mistakes

  • Using zu with a country.

    Ech wunnen zu Frankräich.
    Ech wunnen a Frankräich.

    Zu is for towns and for Lëtzebuerg. Other countries take an, written a before F by the n-rule.

  • Using zu for going to a town.

    Ech fuere muer zu Paräis.
    Ech fuere muer op Paräis.

    Zu only says where someone is. For travelling to a town, use op.

  • Using zu with a country that has an article.

    Meng Kolleegin wunnt zu der Belsch.
    Meng Kolleegin wunnt an der Belsch.

    Countries with an article, such as d'Belsch, take an der for location.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

zu + TownLevel 1In a Town: Zu

Learn This First

Before In a Town: Zu, learn Where and Where To: Wou and Wuer.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

zuan