das  Gegenüber

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡeːɡn̩ˌʔyːbɐ/

🤔 What does "Gegenüber" mean?

The word "Gegenüber" can have two main functions in German:

1. As a noun (neuter): das Gegenüber
   • Refers to a person directly opposite (e.g., in a conversation, at a table). Example: Mein Gegenüber lächelte freundlich. (My counterpart/the person opposite me smiled kindly.)
   • Can also refer to the person one is dealing with, the interlocutor, opponent, or partner. Example: Man sollte sein Gegenüber stets respektieren. (One should always respect one's counterpart.)
   • Can also refer to a place or building on the opposite side (e.g., of a street). Example: Das Café befindet sich im Gegenüber des Bahnhofs. (The café is located opposite the train station.) (Often used without an article or as an adverb/preposition here).
2. As a preposition or adverb: gegenüber (lowercase)
   • Indicates a spatial position: on the other side of something. Example: Er wohnt gegenüber der Kirche. (He lives opposite the church.) Die Post ist gegenüber. (The post office is opposite.)
   • Can also express an attitude or behavior: compared to, towards, regarding. Example: Er ist mir gegenüber sehr höflich. (He is very polite towards me.) Dem Plan gegenüber bin ich skeptisch. (I am skeptical about the plan.)

🚨 Important: As a noun, it's capitalized and takes the article "das". As a preposition/adverb, it's lowercase.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Gegenüber"

"Das Gegenüber" is a nominalized adverb/preposition and is neuter (sächlich).

Declension as a Noun (das Gegenüber)

Usage as Preposition/Adverb (gegenüber)

As a preposition, "gegenüber" usually takes the dative case. It can precede or follow the noun it refers to:

• Dem Haus gegenüber steht eine Bank. (Opposite the house stands a bench.)
• Er saß mir gegenüber. (He sat opposite me.)

As an adverb, it doesn't need an object: Das Haus gegenüber ist neu. (The house opposite is new.)

💬 Example Sentences

• Mein Gegenüber am Verhandlungstisch war sehr erfahren. (My counterpart at the negotiation table was very experienced.) (Noun, person)
• Das Museum befindet sich im Gegenüber des Parks. (The museum is located on the opposite side of the park.) (Noun, place - slightly formal)
• Sie wohnt gegenüber dem Supermarkt. (She lives opposite the supermarket.) (Preposition)
• Dem Chef gegenüber muss man Respekt zeigen. (One must show respect towards the boss.) (Preposition, figurative)
• Wir saßen uns lange schweigend gegenüber. (We sat opposite each other in silence for a long time.) (Adverb)

💡 How to use "Gegenüber"?

Usage depends on whether it's intended as a noun or a preposition/adverb.

As a noun (das Gegenüber):

• 🗣️ Conversations/Interactions: Refers to the person you are talking to or interacting with. "Sein Gegenüber wirkte nervös." (His counterpart seemed nervous.)
• 🤝 Negotiations/Conflicts: Refers to the partner or opponent. "Man muss die Argumente des Gegenübers verstehen." (One must understand the counterpart's arguments.)
• 🗺️ Locations: Refers to the place or building on the other side. This is somewhat less common and often more formal than the prepositional use. "Das Gebäude im Gegenüber ist die Bibliothek." (The building opposite is the library.)

As a preposition/adverb (gegenüber):

• 📍 Spatial: Very common for indicating the position on the other side (of a street, room, etc.). "Die Bäckerei ist gegenüber." (The bakery is opposite.) / "Er saß mir gegenüber." (He sat opposite me.)
• ↔️ Comparison/Attitude: Expresses a relationship or attitude towards someone/something. "Sie ist Fremden gegenüber oft schüchtern." (She is often shy towards strangers.) / "Meiner Idee gegenüber war er aufgeschlossen." (He was open towards my idea.)

Risk of Confusion?

Pay attention to capitalization! "Das Gegenüber" (noun) vs. "gegenüber" (preposition/adverb). The context usually clarifies the meaning.

🧠 Mnemonics

Mnemonic for the article (das):
Imagine looking through das window (neuter) and seeing your reflection – that (das) is your direct Gegenüber. Remember das Fenster, das Spiegelbild (reflection), das Gegenüber.

Mnemonic for the meaning:
Think "gegen (against/towards) you, but über (over/across)" – that's the person or place directly facing you on the other side. Your Gegenüber.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• gegenüberliegend (adjective): Describes something that lies opposite. Example: das gegenüberliegende Haus (the house opposite).
• entgegen (preposition/adverb): Can mean spatially 'towards' or figuratively 'contrary to'. Example: Er kam mir entgegen. (He came towards me.) Entgegen meiner Erwartung. (Contrary to my expectation.)

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum sollte man beim Schach immer sein Gegenüber respektieren?
Weil es sonst vielleicht aufsteht und den Tisch umwirft! 😉

EN: Why should you always respect your opponent (Gegenüber) in chess?
Because otherwise, they might stand up and flip the table! 😉

📜 Poem about "das Gegenüber"

DE:
Am Tisch sitzt still mein Gegenüber,
die Blicke treffen sich hinüber.
Ein Wort, ein Lächeln, leicht und fein,
so kann ein Gespräch beginnen, klein.

Das Haus da drüben, grau und alt,
steht meinem Fenster gegenüber kalt.
Doch scheint die Sonne auf sein Dach,
wird selbst das alte Gemäuer wach.

EN:
At the table sits my counterpart still,
Our glances meet across the sill.
A word, a smile, so light and fine,
Thus can a conversation start, benign.

The house across, so grey and old,
Stands opposite my window, cold.
But when the sun shines on its roof,
Even the ancient walls find proof... of life.

🧩 Riddle

DE:
Ich bin dein Partner im Gespräch,
manchmal dein Feind, mal sanft, mal zäh.
Ich sitz' am Tisch dir vis-à-vis,
wer oder was bin ich, sag's mir hie?

(Lösung: das Gegenüber)

EN:
I am your partner in a talk,
Sometimes your foe, soft or like rock.
I sit across the table, see,
Who or what am I? Tell me!

(Answer: das Gegenüber / the counterpart / the person opposite)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Gegenüber" is a compound of the preposition/adverb "gegen" (against, toward) and the preposition/adverb "über" (over, across). This combination describes the position relative to something else.

Formal Language:

Using "das Gegenüber" as a noun to refer to a place can sound slightly more formal or literary than simply using the preposition/adverb "gegenüber". For instance, "Das Geschäft im Gegenüber" (The shop in the opposite building/location) sounds more formal than "Das Geschäft gegenüber" (The shop opposite).