laut
The English phrase "according to" can be translated into German using several forms, most commonly laut. Wiktionary also lists gemäß and zufolge.
Meaning: based on statement (prep)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| laut | ||
| gemäß | /ɡəˈmɛːs/ /ɡəˈmeːs/ |
|
| zufolge | /tsuˈfɔlɡə/ | |
| nach | /naːx/ /nax/ |
with dative |
These terms are used to indicate that information is based on a specific statement, source or rule.
Which one should you use?
While all these forms mean "according to", they differ in nuance. gemäß is often used to mean "in accordance with" a specific rule, law or regulation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammatical requirements for these words vary. nach requires the dative case. zufolge is typically used after the noun it governs. laut can be used with either the genitive or the dative case.
Did you know?
- The word laut originally did not mean 'according to' in a general sense, but was an abbreviation of 'nach dem Wortlaut', which means 'according to the wording'.
- In German, the word laut can also be an adjective meaning 'loud', which sounds exactly the same as the preposition used for 'according to'.
- While nach is used for 'according to', it is also the standard word used when traveling 'to' a city or country.
Examples in context
- Alles lief nach Plan.Everything went according to plan.This sentence shows how to use nach in the context of a plan.Tatoeba #1768941 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #51658 by CK
- Seiner Meinung nach, ja.According to his opinion, yes.This sentence demonstrates using nach to express an opinion.Tatoeba #441033 by Espi, translation #453900 by saasmath
- Ihr zufolge kommt er nicht.According to her, he isn't coming.This sentence shows the use of zufolge after the noun.Tatoeba #1544304 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1316089 by CK
- Gemäß dem Bericht des Bundesamtes für Statistik…According to the report from the Federal Statistical Office…
- Laut dem Experten sind die Aussichten vielversprechend.According to the expert, the prospects are promising.
- Nach meiner Erfahrung ist das keine gute Idee.According to my experience, that is not a good idea.
- Dem Bericht zufolge…According to the report…
- 206 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are discussing a news report in a cafe.
- MaximilianLaut dem Bericht regnet es heute.According to the report, it is raining today.
- LauraDas sieht aber nicht so aus.But it doesn't look like that.
- MaximilianVielleicht hat sich die Prognose geändert.Maybe the forecast has changed.
- LauraDas kann gut sein.That could be the case.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “according to” translations and entries laut, gemäß, zufolge, nach, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gemäß, laut, nach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
