Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the preposition and the adverb. Use hinter when a noun follows the word to define the position. If there is no object following the word, such as saying someone is sitting "in the back," use the adverb hinten instead. While hinter is the standard preposition, Hinterhalb is a specific formal term used to describe something located behind a particular object or place.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition hinter can take either the accusative or the dative case. Use the accusative case to indicate movement toward a position and the dative case to indicate a static position.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɪntər/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use hinter instead of hinten when they want to say "in the back" without a specific object following the word.
Did you know?
- While hinter is used for positions, the German word for 'the back' of a person is Rücken, meaning you cannot use a form of hinter to name that body part.
- The word hinter shares a deep ancestral link with the English word 'hind', such as in the term 'hindquarters'. Both come from the same Proto-Germanic root.
Examples in context
- Tom ist hinter dir.Tom is behind you.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of hinter with the second person pronoun.Tatoeba #2372422 by Zaghawa, translation #1868220 by CK
- Ich bin hinter dir.I'm behind you.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of hinter with the first person pronoun.Tatoeba #3670395 by brauchinet, translation #6626911 by Schuager
- Sami war hinter mir.Sami was behind me.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of hinter in the past tense.Tatoeba #7251330 by dost, translation #7248598 by OsoHombre
- Das Haus steht hinterhalb des BergesThe house is situated behind the mountain
- Der Park ist gleich dahinterThe park is right behind
- Setz dich hinten ins AutoSit in the back of the car
- Die Schlüssel stecken in der Schublade hinter dem Tisch.The keys are in the drawer behind the table.
- 632 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are looking for a lost ball in a park.
- HannahHast du den Ball gesehen?Have you seen the ball?
- MaximilianEr liegt hinter dem Baum.It is lying behind the tree.
- HannahOh, ich sehe ihn jetzt!Oh, I see it now!
- MaximilianSuper, hol ihn bitte schnell.Great, please go get it quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “behind” translations and entries hinter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hinter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
