01
drunter
underneath
Colloquial short form of 'darunter' (underneath). Refers to a position below something.
example
Ich habe den Schlüssel unter die Matte gelegt, schau mal drunter.
I put the key under the mat; take a look underneath.
drunter
underneath
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Register and form
'Drunter' is the colloquial short form of 'darunter' (underneath). It is used mainly in spoken language and in informal texts.
EXAMPLE
Wo ist meine Brille? Ach, sie liegt direkt drunter.
Where are my glasses? Oh, they're lying right underneath.
Sentence structure
As an adverb, 'drunter' (underneath) can stand at the beginning of a sentence. In that case, the verb follows directly after it (inversion). It can also be used as a short, standalone answer.
EXAMPLE
Drunter lag ein alter Brief.
Underneath was an old letter.
Fixed expression
The expression 'drunter und drüber gehen' means things are chaotic or in great disorder. The words cannot be separated or changed here.
EXAMPLE
Vor der Abreise in den Urlaub ging es bei uns zu Hause drunter und drüber.
Before we left for vacation, everything at our house was in complete chaos.
Compare with
drunter vs darüber
about it / above it
'darüber' and 'drunter' both describe a position in space. However, they point in opposite directions. 'darüber' means that something is above something else. 'drunter' colloquially means 'darunter', that is, underneath something. The words can be confusing because both refer back to another thing in a similar way: you always have to ask whether something is above or below. In neutral or written language, 'darunter' is often more precise than 'drunter'. In everyday speech, however, people often say 'drunter'.
drunter
Der Schlüssel liegt unter der Zeitung, schau mal drunter.
The key is under the newspaper; take a look underneath.
darüber
Das Bild hängt über dem Sofa, und die Lampe ist direkt darüber.
The picture is hanging above the sofa, and the lamp is directly above it.
In real life
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