01
her
here
Expresses movement toward the speaker or an imagined reference point. Often part of a separable verb like 'herkommen' (to come here) or 'hergeben' (to hand over).
example
Komm doch mal schnell her!
Come here quickly!
her
here / ago
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Movement toward the speaker
The adverb 'her' always expresses movement toward the speaker or an imagined point. It is often the prefix of separable verbs like 'herkommen' (to come here) or 'hersehen' (to look here).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte mal kurz zu mir herkommen?
Could you please come over to me for a moment?
Word order as a prefix
When 'her' is part of a separable verb, it stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses, it appears together with the verb at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er reichte mir das Buch her.
He handed me the book.
Past time
To express that a period of time has passed, a fixed structure is used: '[time expression] + ist/sind + [schon] + her'. The word 'her' always stands at the end.
EXAMPLE
Unser letztes Treffen ist schon lange her.
Our last meeting was a long time ago.
Fixed expression
The expression 'hin und her' (back and forth) functions like a single unit. It describes repeated movement between two points.
EXAMPLE
Er lief nervös auf dem Flur hin und her.
He paced nervously back and forth in the hallway.
Part of 'woher'
As part of the question word 'woher' (where from), 'her' asks about the origin or starting point. 'Woher' literally means 'from which place'.
EXAMPLE
Woher kommst du?
Where are you from?
Compare with
her vs aus
from / out
'aus' and 'her' can both have to do with a starting point or a direction. 'aus' often names the place someone comes from or the place something moves out of. 'her' more often shows movement toward the speaker or a reference point. In 'woher' (where from), 'her' asks about the starting point; the answer can then often use 'aus'. That is why the words can be confused. The important point is: 'aus' is used with a place or an inside space, while 'her' describes direction toward the speaker.
her
Komm bitte her, ich möchte dir etwas zeigen.
Please come here; I want to show you something.
aus
Mehmet kommt aus Köln und arbeitet jetzt in Berlin.
Mehmet comes from Cologne and now works in Berlin.
In real life
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