zu

Meaning

Prep

1. to, towards (indicates directionality)
2. with respect to; regarding
3. along with; with (accompanying (the main thing in question))
4. at, on (indicates location)
5. at (indicates time)
6. by, in, on, at (indicates mode (of transportation, speech, etc.))
7. for; (with a noun) as, by way of (for the purpose of)
8. for (in honor of, or directed towards the celebration or event of)
9. into (indicates transition into another form or substance)
10. as, for, to be (to take on the role of)
11. to (used to indicate ratios)
12. at (denotes a price or rate)

Particle

to

Adv

1. too (excessively)
2. (broadly,slang) An intensifier.
3. towards; at
4. (informal) shut; closed; locked
5. ahead, on (along, forwards (continuing an action))
6. (colloquial) As a separated part of dazu or wozu

Adj

1. (indeclinable,informal,predicative) shut, closed (made inaccessible or impassable; not open)
2. (indeclinable,predicative) closed (not operating or conducting trade)
3. (indeclinable,predicative) done up (fastened)
4. (indeclinable,predicative,slang) hammered; very drunk

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡suː/

Etymology

From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-Germanic *tō. A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.

Sentences

Kaum zu glauben !

Hard to believe!

So langsam gehen alle zu Bett .

Everyone is slowly going to bed.

Zu einem großen Teil sind sie jedoch sehr wild .

To a large extent, however, they are very wild.

Ich bitte die Kommission , diesem Appell zu folgen !

I would ask the Commission to respond to this appeal.

Wir müssen produzieren , um wettbewerbsfähig zu sein .

We must create in order to compete.

Um die Ausfallzeiten zu verkürzen , wird Tag und Nacht gearbeitet .

To reduce downtime, we work day and night.

Nun geht es darum , diese Unterlagen zu berücksichtigen und sehr sorgfältig auszuwerten .

We must therefore take these memorandums into consideration and produce an extremely thorough piece of work.

Um größere Tiere erlegen zu können , jagen sie meist kooperativ im Rudel .

In order to be able to kill larger animals, they usually hunt cooperatively in the pack.