links

The German word links is a fundamental spatial adverb that primarily indicates a position or direction toward the left side of a person or object. While it is most commonly used as an adverb, it is intrinsically linked to the concept of 'the left' in various domains, including physical orientation, political affiliation, and social etiquette. In German, spatial awareness is deeply embedded in the language, and 'links' serves as one of the two primary axes of horizontal orientation, the other being 'rechts' (right). Understanding 'links' requires more than just knowing it means 'left'; it involves grasping how it interacts with prepositions, how it changes when referring to political parties, and how it can sometimes carry negative connotations in historical idioms, though in modern German, it is largely neutral in a spatial sense.

Spatial Adverb

In its most basic form, 'links' tells us where something is located relative to a central point. For example, 'Das Buch liegt links' (The book is on the left). It does not change its form based on gender or case when used as an adverb.

Beyond simple directions, 'links' can also function as a noun when capitalized as 'die Linke'. This refers either to the left hand or, more commonly in contemporary discourse, to the political left. In Germany, 'Die Linke' is also the name of a specific political party. The transition from adverb to noun is a common feature in German, where the spatial orientation becomes an identity. Historically, the 'left' side was often associated with the 'sinister' (from Latin), and while this is mostly gone from the literal word 'links', some related words like 'linkisch' (clumsy) still carry a trace of this old bias. However, in everyday A2-level German, 'links' is your essential tool for navigation, describing layouts, and identifying objects in a row.

Political Context

When capitalized as 'die Linke', it refers to the political spectrum that advocates for social equality and egalitarianism. In a sentence: 'Er vertritt Positionen der politischen Linken.'

In a physical sense, 'links' is relative. What is 'links' for you is 'rechts' for someone facing you. This relativity is a key concept in German spatial grammar. When you say 'links von mir' (to the left of me), you are establishing a coordinate system. This is crucial in driving, where 'Linksverkehr' (left-hand traffic) is a term used to describe countries like the UK. In Germany, however, we have 'Rechtsverkehr', so you will mostly be looking to the 'links' to overtake other cars. The word is also used in sports, such as 'Linksschuss' (left-footed shot) in football, or in anatomy, 'die linke Herzkammer' (the left ventricle). The versatility of 'links' makes it one of the top 500 most used words in the German language.

Relative Positioning

Using 'links' with the preposition 'von' requires the dative case. 'Links vom Haus steht ein Baum' (To the left of the house stands a tree).

Using 'links' correctly in German involves understanding its grammatical role as an adverb and how it transforms when it needs to function as an adjective. As an adverb, 'links' is indeclinable. It stays the same regardless of the gender, number, or case of the nouns around it. You use it to describe where something is located ('Wo?') or where something is moving ('Wohin?'). When describing movement, it is almost always paired with the preposition 'nach'. 'Ich gehe nach links' (I am going to the left). This is a fixed expression that every A2 learner must master. If you are describing a static location, you might use 'links von' or simply 'links'.

Directional Movement

Always use 'nach links' for movement. 'Biegen Sie nach links ab' (Turn left). 'Der Wind weht von rechts nach links'.

When 'links' needs to describe a noun directly (functioning as an adjective), it changes to 'link-'. This is where many learners struggle. You cannot say 'die links Hand'. You must say 'die linke Hand'. This adjective 'link-' follows standard German adjective declension rules. For example, 'mein linker Fuß' (nominative masculine), 'der linken Seite' (dative feminine), or 'ein linkes Ding' (nominative neuter, often used idiomatically to mean something 'shady'). Distinguishing between the adverb 'links' and the adjective 'link-' is a hallmark of moving from A2 to B1 proficiency. Furthermore, 'links' can be combined with other words to create compound adverbs like 'linksaußen' (far left) or 'linksherum' (counter-clockwise/around to the left).

Adjectival Use

The root 'link-' is used as an adjective. 'Das linke Auge' (The left eye). 'In der linken Tasche' (In the left pocket).

In professional or technical contexts, 'links' is used in specific ways. In IT, 'ein Link' (borrowed from English) is a hyperlink, but this is a masculine noun ('der Link') and is unrelated to the spatial 'links', though they sound identical. In navigation systems (GPS), you will frequently hear 'In 200 Metern links abbiegen'. In a restaurant, you might hear 'Das Besteck liegt links vom Teller'. It is also important to note the phrase 'von links nach rechts', which describes the reading direction in Western cultures. If you want to say someone is 'left-handed', you use the adjective 'linkshändig' or the noun 'der Linkshänder'.

Common Combinations

'Links liegen lassen' is a common idiom meaning to ignore someone or something. 'Er hat mich einfach links liegen lassen' (He just ignored me).

The word 'links' is omnipresent in German daily life. You will hear it most frequently in the context of traffic and navigation. Whether you are driving a car, riding a bike, or walking through a city, 'links' is a constant guide. GPS devices in Germany use a very standard set of phrases involving 'links'. For example, 'An der Ampel links' (Left at the traffic light) or 'Scharf links abbiegen' (Turn sharp left). In public transport, especially on trains or subways, an automated voice will often announce: 'Ausstieg in Fahrtrichtung links' (Exit on the left in the direction of travel). This is a vital piece of information for commuters to ensure they are standing at the correct door.

Public Transport

Listen for 'Ausstieg links' or 'Ausstieg rechts' on the Deutsche Bahn or local U-Bahn/S-Bahn systems.

In the world of politics, 'links' is heard daily on the news ('Tagesschau' or 'heute-journal'). Journalists discuss the 'linke Flügel' (left wing) of a party or 'linksorientierte' (left-oriented) policies. In Germany, political discourse is often framed as a balance between 'links' and 'rechts'. You might hear people say, 'Ich stehe eher links' (I lean more to the left politically). This usage is so common that 'links' often functions as a shorthand for a whole set of social and economic beliefs. In sports, particularly football (soccer), commentators will describe a player's 'linken Fuß' (left foot) or their position on the 'linken Außenbahn' (left wing/flank). A 'Linksschuss' is a shot taken with the left foot, which is often highlighted if the player is naturally right-footed.

Sports Commentary

Common phrases include 'über die linke Seite angreifen' (attack via the left side) or 'ein Linkshänder' (a left-handed person, common in handball or tennis).

In a domestic or social setting, 'links' is used to describe the layout of a table or the location of items in a house. 'Das Messer liegt rechts, die Gabel links' (The knife is on the right, the fork on the left). When looking at a photo, you might say, 'Das bin ich, ganz links' (That's me, on the far left). In a clothing store, an assistant might say, 'Die Umkleidekabinen sind dort links um die Ecke' (The changing rooms are there left around the corner). It's also used in idioms like 'zwei linke Hände haben' (to have two left hands), which means to be very clumsy or unhandy with manual tasks. Hearing this phrase usually implies a lighthearted critique of someone's DIY skills.

Social Situations

Describing positions in photos or seating arrangements: 'Wer sitzt links neben dir?' (Who is sitting to the left of you?).

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning German is confusing the adverb 'links' with the English noun 'link' (as in a web link). In German, 'links' only refers to the direction. The English word 'link' has been adopted into German as 'der Link' (plural: 'die Links'). While they sound identical, their grammatical behavior is different. You cannot say 'Ich klicke auf den links'; it must be 'Ich klicke auf den Link'. Conversely, you cannot say 'Biegen Sie nach Link ab'; it must be 'Biegen Sie nach links ab'. Keeping these two concepts separate in your mind is essential for clear communication in both digital and physical spaces.

Adverb vs. Adjective

Learners often forget to decline 'link-' when it's an adjective. Incorrect: 'die links Hand'. Correct: 'die linke Hand'.

Another common error involves the use of prepositions. Many learners try to translate 'on the left' literally as 'auf dem Links'. However, the correct German expression is 'auf der linken Seite' or simply 'links'. If you want to say 'to the left of...', you must use 'links von' followed by the dative case. For example, 'links von dem Auto' (to the left of the car). Using 'links' without 'von' in this context is a grammatical error. Additionally, when giving directions, 'nach links' is used for movement, but 'links' is used for location. 'Gehen Sie nach links' (Go to the left) vs. 'Das Haus ist links' (The house is on the left). Mixing these up can confuse a listener about whether you are describing a destination or a path.

Preposition Pitfalls

Avoid 'zu links'. Use 'nach links' for direction. Avoid 'an der links'. Use 'auf der linken Seite'.

In the political realm, calling someone 'links' can be sensitive. While it is a standard descriptor, calling someone 'linksextrem' (left-wing extremist) is a serious accusation. Learners should be careful to use the correct terminology when discussing politics to avoid unintended offense. Furthermore, there is a verb 'linken' which means 'to trick' or 'to cheat' someone. This is informal and unrelated to the spatial direction 'links' in a literal sense, but it's a common 'false friend' for those who think it might mean 'to move left'. If someone says 'Er hat mich gelinkt', they mean 'He cheated me', not 'He moved me to the left'.

The Verb 'linken'

Don't confuse the adverb 'links' with the verb 'linken'. 'Ich linke' does not mean 'I am going left'.

To truly master 'links', it helps to understand its linguistic relatives and how they differ. The most obvious counterpart is 'rechts' (right). These two words form a pair that governs most spatial descriptions. Just like 'links', 'rechts' is an adverb, and its adjectival form is 'recht-'. Another related word is 'linkisch', which describes someone who is clumsy or awkward. This comes from the historical association of the left hand with lack of skill. While 'links' is neutral, 'linkisch' is definitely negative. Then there is 'link', an adjective that can mean 'shady', 'sneaky', or 'dubious'. If someone says 'Das ist eine linke Tour', they mean it's a deceptive trick.

Links vs. Linkisch

'Links' is a direction. 'Linkisch' is a personality trait meaning awkward or clumsy.

We also have 'linkshändig' (left-handed) and 'der Linkshänder' (the left-hander). In the past, children were often forced to write with their right hand, but today, being a 'Linkshänder' is perfectly normal in Germany. In a political context, you might encounter 'linksliberal' (left-liberal) or 'linksradikal' (left-wing radical). These compounds allow for more precise descriptions of a person's or a group's political stance. Another interesting word is 'linksherum', which means 'to the left' in a circular motion, like 'counter-clockwise'. If you are opening a jar, you might be told to turn it 'linksherum'.

Links vs. Link

'Links' is the adverb. 'Link' (as an adjective) means sneaky or deceptive. 'Das war eine linke Sache' (That was a shady business).

Finally, consider 'linksaussen' and 'linksinnen'. These are often used in sports or organizational charts to describe specific positions. In football, a 'Linksaußen' is a left winger. In a more abstract sense, 'links' can be compared with 'seitlich' (sideways) or 'flankierend' (flanking). While 'links' is specific to one side, 'seitlich' is more general. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right word for the right situation. For instance, if you're describing a car accident, 'links' is much more helpful than 'seitlich' because it specifies exactly where the impact occurred. The richness of the German language allows 'links' to be the root of many descriptive and functional words.

Links vs. Seitlich

'Links' is a specific direction. 'Seitlich' means 'from the side' or 'sideways' without specifying which side.