da

Meaning

Adv

1. there; here
2. (temporal) then; so; at that moment
3. (colloquial) replaces any pronominal adverb when the context is clear

Conj

1. since; as; because; given that
2. (dated,literary) when

Pronounced as (IPA)

/daː/

Etymology

From a merger of three interrelated adverbs: 1.) Middle High German dā, dār (“there, at that place”), from Old High German thār, dār, from Proto-West Germanic *þār. 2.) Middle High German dar, dare (“thither, to that place”), from Old High German thara, dara, from an extended form of the former. 3.) Middle High German dō, duo (“then, at that time”), from Old High German thō, dō, duo, from Proto-Germanic *þō.
The three forms were already sometimes intermingled in Old and Middle High German. The eventual loss of the distinction in modern German was reinforced by phonetic mergers in various dialects. Today, the senses of adverbs 1 and 3 are covered by da, while adverb 2 has been chiefly replaced with hin, dahin. The form dar- remains as a variant of da- before vowels and in some compound verbs (like darlegen, darbringen). Adverb 1 and 2 are cognate with Dutch daar, English there, Swedish där. Adverb 3 is cognate with Dutch toen.

Sentences

Ist noch Kaffee da ?

Is there any coffee left?

Da nur Elizabeth ihn sehen kann , halten sie die anderen Leute bald für verrückt .

He causes chaos around the home and neighborhood, but nobody can see him except her.

Eine schöne Website haben Sie da .

You have a nice website.

Da beißt sich die Katze in den Schwanz .

There is no reason at all.

Sind wir bald da ?, fragte Susi ihre Eltern .

Are we there soon?, Susi asked her parents.

Da haben Sie Ihre Liebeserklärungen.

Here are your declarations of love.

Deine Freiheit endet da , wo sie die der anderen einschränkt .

Your freedom ends where it restricts the freedom of others.

Da müssen wir die Beschränkungen beseitigen .

That means overcoming certain obstacles.