Which one should you use?
Use the preposition seit when it is followed by a specific point in time, such as seit Montag (since Monday). If you want to use 'since' as an adverb meaning 'since then' without following it with a specific time, use the adverbs seitdem or seither.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition seit always requires the dative case for the noun or time expression that follows it. Additionally, a major difference from English is that when describing an action that started in the past and is still continuing, German uses the present tense with seit, whereas English typically uses the present perfect.
How do you pronounce it?
/zaɪ̯t/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the perfect tense with seit. For example, do not say Ich bin seit gestern gekommen to mean you arrived since yesterday. Instead, use the present tense such as Ich bin seit gestern hier to indicate you have been there since that time.
Did you know?
- The German word seit shares a common ancestor with the Old English word 'sīþ', which meant 'a journey' or 'a path'.
- German has a unique word seitens, which functions as a preposition meaning 'on the part of' or 'from the side of'.
- While seit refers to time, the word Seite means 'page' or 'side'. Despite the similar spelling and sound, these words have entirely different linguistic roots and meanings.
Examples in context
- Es regnet seit Sonntag.It has been raining since Sunday.This sentence shows how to use seit with a day of the week.Tatoeba #639175 by BraveSentry, translation #281825 by CK
- Es regnet seit gestern.It has been raining since yesterday.This sentence demonstrates using seit with a relative time like yesterday.Tatoeba #639916 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #244371 by CC
- Ich bin seit 2013 hier.I've been here since 2013.This sentence illustrates using seit with a specific year.Tatoeba #11948691 by Naina, translation #8206569 by CK
- Ich lebe seit zehn Jahren in Deutschland.I have been living in Germany for ten years.
- Ich spiele seitdem ich fünf Jahre alt bin Klavier.I have been playing the piano since I was five years old.
- Seit dem Unfall hat er Angst vor dem Autofahren.He has been afraid of driving since the accident.
- Er hat Kopfschmerzen, da er zu wenig geschlafen hat.He has a headache since he slept too little.
- Ich habe keine Zeit, weil ich viel Arbeit habe.I don't have time since I have a lot of work.
- 1040 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are catching up at a cafe.
- SarahArbeitest du seit Juni in Berlin?Have you been working in Berlin since June?
- LukasJa, ich wohne seit Juni hier.Yes, I have been living here since June.
- SarahGefällt dir die Stadt?Do you like the city?
- LukasJa, sie ist sehr schön.Yes, it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “since” translations and entries seit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries seit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
