My First Month in Heidelberg: Talking Addresses and Getting Lost (A Lot!)

Okay, so, this is officially my fourth month living in Heidelberg, and let’s be honest, it’s been a rollercoaster. I moved here for the job – a fantastic opportunity as a freelance translator, which is brilliant – but navigating daily life? That’s been a whole other story. A particularly confusing story involving a LOT of asking for directions and a serious misunderstanding about where I actually live. It all boils down to one thing: German prepositions, and specifically, local prepositions.

The Trouble with “in,” “an,” and “auf”

Before I moved, I thought I knew German. I’d done some basic courses, learned a few key phrases. But “in,” “an,” and “auf” are completely different in German than they are in English. They don’t just mean “in,” “on,” and “at.” They’re tied to location in a way that just doesn’t exist back home.

I spent the first week hopelessly confused, describing my apartment to everyone as “in meine Wohnung” – which, let’s be clear, is a massive, beautiful disaster. I was told, very politely, that that wasn’t quite right. Then I discovered the real culprits.

Local Prepositions – The Key to Heidelberg

The thing is, the prepositions change depending on where you’re talking about.

• “in” – This is the tricky one. It’s mostly used for rooms inside a building. For example, “Ich bin in dem Wohnzimmer” (I am in the living room). But it’s not used for the building itself. I kept trying to say “Ich bin in dem Haus” – completely wrong! My friend, Lena, gently corrected me: “Nein, Alice, du sagst ‘Ich bin in dem Haus’.”
• “an” – This one is used for things attached to a building, like windows, doors, or walls. “Das Fenster ist an der Wand” (The window is on the wall). It’s not for buildings generally.
• “auf” – This is used for things above something. “Der Stuhl ist auf dem Tisch” (The chair is on the table).

My First Conversation – A Complete Mess

Let’s just walk through a typical (and embarrassing) conversation I had trying to tell the postman where I lived.

Me: “Entschuldigung, ich bin neu hier. Ich wohne an der Schillerstraße, Nummer 12, in der ersten Etage.” (Excuse me, I’m new here. I live on Schillerstraße, number 12, on the first floor.)

Postman (Herr Schmidt): “Ah, die Schillerstraße! Aber auf der Schillerstraße gibt es viele Straßen! Wo genau? Das ist Heidelberg, Frau…?” (Ah, Schillerstraße! But on Schillerstraße there are many streets! Where exactly? That’s Heidelberg, Mrs…?)

Me (becoming increasingly flustered): “Nein, nein, in der Schillerstraße! An der Ecke zum Marktplatz!” (No, no, in Schillerstraße! At the corner of the market square!)

Herr Schmidt: “Ach so! Auf der Schillerstraße, Ecke Marktplatz. Das ist klar!” (Oh, I see! On Schillerstraße, corner of the market square. That’s clear!)

I swear, I felt my face turn red. Thankfully, he delivered the mail!

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

I’ve made a few recurring mistakes. People keep correcting me, which is incredibly helpful (and a little humbling!). The biggest one is confusing “auf” with “an.” I still find myself instinctively saying “Ich bin auf dem Haus” when I really mean “Ich bin an dem Haus.”

The best advice I’ve gotten is to really focus on what I’m describing and where it is in relation to the building. Also, I’m starting to write down the phrases I’m learning – it really helps me to solidify them.

Practical Phrases to Learn Now

Here are a few phrases you can start using:

• “Ich wohne in dem…” (I live in the…)
• “Ich wohne an der…” (I live on the…)
• “Ich wohne auf dem…” (I live on the…)
• “Die Wohnung ist in der ersten Etage.” (The apartment is on the first floor.)
• “Die Wohnung ist an der Ecke zum Supermarkt.” (The apartment is at the corner of the supermarket.)

It’s still early days, but I’m determined to get this right. And, honestly, the constant corrections are a really good thing. It’s making me pay attention, learn, and not just rely on my rusty English brain. Next up: tackling the local baker’s request for my address – wish me luck! Ich drücke euch die Daumen! (I’m sending you all the best!)