Ich sitze am Fenster.

I sit by the window.

Breakdown of Ich sitze am Fenster.

• ich: I
• das Fenster: the window
• sitzen: to sit
• am: at the; (masculine or neuter, dative)

Questions & Answers about Ich sitze am Fenster.

What does am stand for, and why is the dative used?

In this sentence, am is the contraction of an dem. The preposition an is a two-way preposition: use dative for a location, accusative for motion toward something. Fenster is neuter (das Fenster), so the dative article is dem: an dem Fenster → am Fenster.

Why isn’t it ans Fenster?

Because ans = an das (accusative) and is used for motion toward a place. Here we have a location (no movement), so we use dative: am Fenster. With movement, you’d say: Ich setze mich ans Fenster.

What’s the difference between sitzen and (sich) setzen?

• sitzen = to be seated (a state): Ich sitze am Fenster.
• (sich) setzen = to sit down / to seat (a movement): Ich setze mich ans Fenster. Tenses: sitzen → ich saß, ich habe gesessen; setzen → ich setzte (mich), ich habe (mich) gesetzt.

Can I say Am Fenster sitze ich?

Yes. German is verb-second: if you front Am Fenster, the finite verb still comes second: Am Fenster sitze ich. This puts emphasis on the location; the neutral order is Ich sitze am Fenster.

Why is Fenster capitalized?

All German nouns are capitalized, so Fenster gets a capital F. Ich is capitalized here only because it begins the sentence; otherwise the pronoun is ich.

Can I say im Fenster instead of am Fenster?

im = in dem and literally means “in the window (opening/behind the pane).” Use im Fenster for things displayed or framed in the window: Die Pflanze steht im Fenster. For “sitting by the window,” standard German uses am Fenster; im Fenster sitzen would suggest literally sitting in the window opening.

How do I say “on the windowsill” in German?

Use auf der Fensterbank or auf dem Fensterbrett. With location, auf takes dative: Die Katze sitzt auf der Fensterbank. (die Fensterbank → dative der; das Fensterbrett → dative dem.)

How do Germans express the English progressive (I am sitting)?

German usually uses the simple present: Ich sitze (gerade) am Fenster. You can add gerade to stress “right now.” A regional “am-progressive” (Ich bin am Sitzen) exists but isn’t standard; avoid it in formal contexts.

What’s the gender/case of Fenster, and how do I say “by a window” or “by the windows”?

Fenster is neuter (das Fenster). Examples:

• by a window: Ich sitze an einem Fenster.
• by the windows (plural): Ich sitze an den Fenstern. (Dative plural adds -n to the noun: Fenster → Fenstern.)

Is am Fenster what people say for a window seat on a plane or train?

Yes. Common phrases:

• Ich sitze am Fenster. (I have the window seat.)
• Ich hätte gern einen Platz am Fenster. Contrast: am Gang (aisle): Ich sitze am Gang. The noun for a window seat is der Fensterplatz.

Any pronunciation tips for Ich sitze am Fenster?

• ch in ich is the soft ich-sound (not a hard “k”).
• z in sitze is pronounced “ts.”
• Final -e in sitze is a short, unstressed “uh” sound.
• st in Fenster is pronounced like “st” in “stay” (not “sht” in standard German).
• The final -er in Fenster is a weak, almost “uh”-like sound.

What’s the difference between am Fenster and vor dem Fenster?

am Fenster = “at/by the window,” right next to it (e.g., a seat by the window). vor dem Fenster = “in front of the window,” which could be some distance away or even outside. For sitting at a seat by the window, use am Fenster.