German Phrase
Geh geradeaus.
Meaning
A direct, informal command meaning “Go straight ahead.” It tells the listener to continue moving forward without turning left or right.
When to use
Use it when giving simple directions to a friend, a child, or anyone you address with “du”. It’s common in everyday conversation, on the street, or in a classroom when a teacher points the way.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gehgeradeaus
Imperative (du) of gehen
For the informal singular you drop the infinitive ending -en and add -e: gehen → geh(e). The -e is often omitted in spoken German, so both “Geh” and “Gehe” are correct.
Adverb “geradeaus”
A compound adverb meaning “straight ahead”. It is not split; it stays together and is stressed on the second syllable.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Bahnhof?
Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
Geh geradeaus.
Go straight ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Gehen geradeaus.
Missing the imperative ending – you need the command form “Geh” or “Gehe”.
Geh gerade.
“Gerade” alone means “straight” (as an adjective) and does not convey the direction “ahead”.
Geh geradeaus bitte.
While polite, “bitte” after an imperative can sound overly formal in casual speech; it’s better to place “bitte” before the command: “Bitte geh geradeaus.”
↔Alternatives
Gehe geradeaus.
Go straight ahead.
Lauf geradeaus.
Walk straight ahead.
Folge dem Weg geradeaus.
Follow the road straight ahead.
Gehen Sie geradeaus.
Go straight ahead. (formal)
Cultural Tip
The imperative “Geh” is informal; in a formal setting you would say “Gehen Sie geradeaus.” Germans often add landmarks (e.g., “Geh geradeaus bis zur Ampel”) to make directions clearer. Also, avoid using “gerade” alone, which only means “straight” as an adjective, not the adverbial “straight ahead.”