Ich übe allein zu Hause.

I practice alone at home.

Breakdown of Ich übe allein zu Hause.

• ich: I
• allein: alone
• üben: to practice

Questions & Answers about Ich übe allein zu Hause.

Why do we use übe here instead of praktiziere?

In German, üben is typically used to mean "to practice" in the sense of improving a skill (for example, practicing the piano or practicing speaking German). The word praktizieren usually refers to practicing a profession (for example, a doctor practicing medicine). So if you want to say "I practice alone at home" to indicate working on a skill, übe is correct.

What’s the difference between zu Hause and nach Hause?

Zu Hause means "at home," while nach Hause means "to (my) home"/"towards home." In this sentence, zu Hause indicates your location ("I am at home practicing"), whereas nach Hause would describe going home or heading home.

Can we change the word order, for example: Ich übe zu Hause allein?

Yes, you can say Ich übe zu Hause allein. Both Ich übe allein zu Hause and Ich übe zu Hause allein are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The slight difference is emphasis. Putting allein at the end can feel a bit more emphatic, highlighting the fact that you're by yourself.

Why do we say zu Hause instead of in meinem Haus?

Zu Hause is the common fixed phrase meaning "at home." Using in meinem Haus is more literal and would sound like you're referring to the physical building ("inside my house"). So Ich übe in meinem Haus is not wrong, but it’s less natural if you just mean "at home."

What exactly does allein mean here?

Allein in this context means "by myself" or "on my own." It emphasizes that you are not with anyone else while practicing at home. If you just say Ich übe zu Hause, people will know you're practicing at home, but not necessarily that you’re doing it without anyone else.