German Phrase
Vom Brunnen aus geh links zur Kirche.
Meaning
The sentence gives a simple direction: start at the fountain and then turn left to reach the church. It is a typical way to describe a short route in German.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving someone walking directions in a town or city, especially in a guided tour, a friend’s request for directions, or a navigation app that prefers short, imperative instructions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
VomBrunnenausgehlinkszurKirche
vom = von dem
A contraction of the preposition 'von' (from) and the dative article 'dem', used before masculine/neuter nouns.
aus (preposition)
Indicates the point of origin; combined with 'vom' it emphasizes starting from a specific place.
geh (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of 'gehen' (to go).
links (adverb)
Means 'to the left' and is used without a preposition after a motion verb.
zur = zu der
A contraction of the preposition 'zu' (to) and the dative article 'der', used before feminine nouns.
Kirche (noun)
Feminine noun meaning 'church'.
🗨In Conversation
Wie komme ich zur Kirche?
How do I get to the church?
Vom Brunnen aus geh links zur Kirche.
From the fountain, go left to the church.
✕Common Mistakes
Von Brunnen aus geh links zur Kirche.
Missing the definite article; 'vom' (von dem) is required before a masculine noun like 'Brunnen'.
Vom Brunnen aus geh nach links zur Kirche.
While 'nach links' is possible, the more idiomatic short form after a verb of motion is just 'links'.
Vom Brunnen aus geh links zur Brunnen.
The article must agree with the gender; 'Brunnen' is masculine, so it would be 'zum Brunnen', not 'zur'.
↔Alternatives
Gehe vom Brunnen aus nach links zur Kirche.
Go left to the church from the fountain.
Vom Brunnen aus biegst du dich links zur Kirche.
From the fountain, you turn left toward the church.
Vom Brunnen aus gehst du links zur Kirche.
From the fountain, you go left to the church.
Cultural Tip
In German, the combination 'vom … aus' is very common for giving directions and sounds natural to native speakers. It is more precise than just 'von' because it stresses the starting point. Note that 'aus dem Brunnen' would mean 'out of the well', which is a different meaning, so keep the article when you mean a public fountain.