Where, where to, where from

English gets away with one word — where — for three different questions. German insists on separating them, and once you internalise that split, choosing the right preposition becomes almost automatic.

• Ich bin in Casablanca.

  I am in Casablanca.

  Wo?

• Ich fahre nach Deutschland.

  I am travelling to Germany.

  Wohin?

• Ich gehe zum Arzt.

  I am going to the doctor.

  Wohin?

• Ich komme aus Marokko.

  I come from Morocco.

  Woher? — my origin

• Ich komme von der Arbeit.

  I am coming from work.

  Woher? — a place I just left

• Ich bin bei meinem Freund.

  I am at my friend’s place.

  Wo?

The two that get confused most are nach and zu for destinations, and aus and von for origins. The distinction is simple enough to memorise as a pair of rules.

nach + countries and cities (no article) · zu + people, and places you go to do something.

• Ich fliege nach Berlin.

  I am flying to Berlin.

• Ich gehe zur Arbeit.

  I am going to work.

• Ich gehe zu meinem Freund.

  I am going to my friend’s.

• Ich gehe nach Hause.

  I am going home.

  fixed phrase — no article

aus = out of, where you are originally from · von = away from a point you have just left.

Ich komme aus Marokko is a fact about your life. Ich komme von der Arbeit is a fact about the last twenty minutes.