German Phrase
Die Sauna ist neben den Duschen.
Meaning
The sentence tells you where the sauna is located: it is situated right next to the showers. It is a typical way to give a short, clear direction inside a spa, gym, hotel or any place with wellness facilities.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to point out the sauna’s location to a guest, a friend, or a staff member – for example at a hotel reception, in a fitness centre, or when you’re giving a tour of a wellness area.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieSaunaistnebendenDuschen
Definite article (Die)
‘Die’ is the nominative feminine singular article used with ‘Sauna’.
Noun gender (Sauna)
‘Sauna’ is a feminine noun, so it takes ‘die’ in the nominative case.
Verb ‘sein’ (ist)
‘ist’ is the 3rd‑person singular present of ‘sein’ (to be).
Preposition ‘neben’
‘neben’ means ‘next to’ and always governs the dative case.
Definite article (den)
‘den’ is the plural dative form of the definite article, required after ‘neben’.
Plural noun (Duschen)
‘Duschen’ is the plural of ‘die Dusche’; in this sentence it appears in the dative case.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, wo ist die Sauna?
Excuse me, where is the sauna?
Die Sauna ist neben den Duschen.
The sauna is next to the showers.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Sauna ist neben die Duschen.
‘neben’ requires dative, so the article must be ‘den’, not ‘die’.
Die Sauna ist neben der Duschen.
‘der’ is dative singular feminine; ‘Duschen’ is plural, so the correct dative plural article is ‘den’.
Die Sauna ist bei den Duschen.
‘bei’ means ‘by/at’ and changes the nuance; it does not convey the same ‘right next to’ meaning as ‘neben’.
↔Alternatives
Die Sauna befindet sich neben den Duschen.
The sauna is located next to the showers.
Die Sauna liegt neben den Duschen.
The sauna lies next to the showers.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries saunas are a staple of wellness culture, especially in hotels and public baths. Remember that ‘Sauna’ is feminine (die Sauna) and that ‘neben’ always takes the dative case, not the accusative. Using the wrong case (e.g., ‘neben die Duschen’) sounds ungrammatical to native speakers.