am / um / vum / mam / beim

Preposition and Article Contractions

Level 2

An dem becomes am, op dem becomes um, mat dem becomes mam: Ech sinn am Gaart. Ech fuere mam Bus.

How It Works

The contractions

  • am = an dem: am Gaart, am Kino
  • um = op dem (also un dem): um Dësch
  • vum = vun dem: vum Supermarché
  • mam = mat dem: mam Bus
  • beim = bei dem: beim Dokter
  • zum = zu dem: zum Beispill
  • nom = no dem: nom Iessen
  • virum = virun dem: virum Haus

In everyday language the short form is the normal one: beim Dokter sounds much more natural than bei dem Dokter.

Mostly with dem
Feminine nouns keep der: an der Stad, mat der Bomi. The one exception is zur (zu der): Meng Frëndin gehéiert scho bal zur Famill. Plurals keep den (de): mat de Kanner. See dem/der/den (dative).

Only in the dative
With movement, two-way prepositions take the accusative, and nothing merges: Ech ginn an de Kino, but Ech sinn am Kino. See two-way prepositions.

Not when pointing
If you mean that one, use the stressed form deem, which never merges: mat deem Mann do. See deen/déi/dat (demonstrative).

Um with clock times
In um aacht Auer, um is a separate word meaning at, not op dem. See time prepositions.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech sinn am Gaart.

    I am in the garden.

    Word by Word: I am in-the garden.

    Gaart is masculine, and sinn describes a location, so an dem becomes am.

  2. D'Fläsch steet um Dësch.

    The bottle is on the table.

    Word by Word: The bottle stands on-the table.

    Op dem becomes um.

  3. Ech fuere mam Bus op d'Aarbecht.

    I go to work by bus.

    Word by Word: I drive with-the bus to the work.

    Mat dem becomes mam. Fueren becomes fuere before the m.

  4. Ech si muer beim Dokter.

    I am at the doctor's tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I am tomorrow at-the doctor.

    Bei dem becomes beim.

  5. Si kënnt grad vum Supermarché.

    She is just coming from the supermarket.

    Word by Word: She comes just from-the supermarket.

    Supermarché is masculine, so vun dem becomes vum.

  6. Nom Iessen drénke mer e Kaffi.

    After the meal we will have a coffee.

    Word by Word: After-the eating drink we a coffee.

    Iessen is neuter, so no dem becomes nom.

Common Mistakes

  • Contracting with a feminine noun.

    Ech sinn am Stad.
    Ech sinn an der Stad.

    Stad is feminine, so the dative article is der. Only dem merges with the preposition.

  • Using a dative contraction for movement toward a place.

    Ech ginn am Kino.
    Ech ginn an de Kino.

    Going somewhere takes the accusative with an, so there is no dem to merge. Am Kino means in the cinema.

  • Contracting with a plural noun.

    Ech spille mam Kanner.
    Ech spille mat de Kanner.

    Kanner is plural, and the plural dative article is den (de before K). It does not merge with mat.

How It Connects

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

am / um / vum / mam / beimLevel 2Preposition and Article Contractions

Learn This First

Before Preposition and Article Contractions, learn Prepositions With the Dative.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

amvummambeimzumnomvirumiwweremënneremhannerem