unten

Unten is a German adverb that refers to a location or direction toward a lower place or the lower part of something. It is used to indicate where something or someone is situated relative to a reference point, such as a building, landscape, or diagram. It contrasts with oben, which means “upstairs” or “above.”

Etymology and form: Unten originates from the Germanic family of words linked to under or below. It functions as a standalone adverb and does not change form for person, number, or gender. In contrast to prepositional phrases like unter or unterhalb, unten expresses a position in relation to a reference point rather than the exact object of a preposition.

Usage: Unten is common in everyday speech, signage, and written language. It can stand alone: “Ich warte unten.” It can pair with a noun to specify location: “Das Büro ist unten im Gebäude” or “Treppenhaus unten.” It also appears in fixed phrases such as “siehe unten” to direct readers to information located later in the text, and in directions like “Geh nach unten.”

Metaphorical use: Beyond physical space, unten can describe figurative positions, such as ranking or layering: “unten auf der Liste” (lower on the list) or “unten im Bericht” (in the lower part of the report).

Translations: In English, unten is usually translated as “downstairs” or “below,” depending on context. When referring to a location in a building, “downstairs” is common; for a position on a page or map, “below” or “at the bottom” is typical.