to drop by
Loading your saved state.
to drop by
To visit someone or a place for a short time, often spontaneously and informally.
Ich bin morgen in deiner Gegend und könnte am Nachmittag kurz vorbeischauen.
I'll be in your area tomorrow and could drop by briefly in the afternoon.
'Vorbeischauen' (to drop by) is a separable verb. The prefix 'vorbei-' comes at the end in main clauses, stays connected to the verb in subordinate clauses, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in between.
Ich schaue später bei dir vorbei.
I'll drop by your place later.
To say whom or where you are visiting, the preposition 'bei' with the dative is almost always used. This indicates which person or place (e.g., the office) you are dropping by.
Kann ich heute Abend bei dir vorbeischauen?
Can I drop by your place this evening?
This verb is mainly used in informal everyday language. It expresses a short, often spontaneous visit to friends, family, or colleagues.
Schau doch mal vorbei, wenn du in der Nähe bist!
Do drop by sometime when you're nearby!
to visit
'besuchen' and 'vorbeischauen' can both mean that you go to someone or to a place. 'besuchen' is neutral and can fit short or long visits. It also sounds natural for planned visits or official places. 'vorbeischauen' is more informal and usually means a short visit, often spontaneous or without much planning. It is used especially in everyday life among friends, neighbors, or colleagues. A good memory aid is: 'besuchen' is more general, while 'vorbeischauen' sounds short and casual.
Wenn ich nach der Arbeit Zeit habe, schaue ich kurz bei dir vorbei.
If I have time after work, I'll drop by your place for a bit.
Daniel besucht heute seine Großeltern und bleibt zum Abendessen.
Daniel is visiting his grandparents today and staying for dinner.