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German Phrase

Ich bin am Brunnen, wo wollen wir als Nächstes hin?

/ɪç bɪn am ˈbʁʊnən, voː ˈvɔlən viːɐ̯ al ˈnɛːçstəs hɪn/
Meaning"I am at the fountain, where shall we go next?"
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Meaning

Literally: “I am at the fountain, where shall we go next?” It is used to tell a companion where you are standing and to ask for the next destination in a casual, collaborative way.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you meet friends at a well‑known landmark (e.g., a city fountain) and you want to decide together where to continue your walk, sightseeing tour, or outing.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchbinamBrunnen,wowollenwiralsNächsteshin?

1

Verb "sein" (to be)

The verb "sein" is conjugated as "bin" for the first person singular in the present tense.

2

Preposition "an" + dative

"am" is the contraction of "an dem" and requires the dative case; therefore "Brunnen" stays in the dative singular (dem Brunnen).

3

Question with "wo … hin?"

When you ask for a destination you combine the interrogative "wo" (where) with the directional particle "hin" (to there). The verb stays in normal V2 position.

4

"als Nächstes" as an adverbial phrase

"als Nächstes" means "next" and functions as a single adverbial unit that can be placed before the verb or at the end of the clause.

5

Verb‑second (V2) word order

In main clauses the finite verb occupies the second position, so after the introductory phrase "Ich bin am Brunnen" the next clause also starts with the interrogative "wo" followed by the verb "wollen".

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich bin am Brunnen, wo wollen wir als Nächstes hin?

I’m at the fountain, where shall we go next?

Wie wäre es mit dem Museum gegenüber?

How about the museum across the street?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin am Brunnen, wo wollen wir als Nächstes zu?

    The particle "zu" is wrong here; for a destination you need "hin" (or "her" for a return direction).

  • Ich bin bei dem Brunnen, wo wollen wir als Nächstes hin?

    Both are possible, but "am Brunnen" is the idiomatic short form. Using the full form can sound overly formal in casual speech.

  • Ich bin am Brunnen, wo wollen wir nächstes hin?

    The phrase "als Nächstes" is a fixed adverbial expression; dropping "als" changes the meaning and sounds ungrammatical.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich stehe am Brunnen, wohin gehen wir als Nächstes?

    I’m standing at the fountain, where shall we go next?

  • Ich bin beim Brunnen, was machen wir jetzt?

    I’m by the fountain, what shall we do now?

  • Ich bin am Brunnen, wohin sollen wir weitergehen?

    I’m at the fountain, where should we go next?

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Cultural Tip

In many German‑speaking towns fountains (Brunnen) serve as popular meeting points because they are easy to spot and often located in central squares. When asking for a next destination, native speakers usually pair "wo" with "hin" (or "her" for a return direction) to make the question sound natural. Avoid using "wo" alone for a destination, as that can be interpreted as asking about a location rather than a direction.