Some words capture more than just a location — they carry emotion. Closeness can mean physical proximity, emotional warmth, or even a sense of safety. Learning how to say closeness in German helps you express connection, comfort, and context in a natural way.

The German word is die Nähe. It’s feminine, and it has no plural form. To get a better grip on article usage, my gender video lesson can walk you through it clearly.

Nähe is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it's incredibly useful when you want to talk about location, intimacy, or emotional bonds.

Here’s how Nähe appears in different cases:

Nominative:
Die Nähe zu meiner Familie ist mir wichtig.
Closeness to my family is important to me.

Accusative:
Ich suche die Nähe von Freunden.
I seek the closeness of friends.

Dative:
Er lebt in der Nähe von Berlin.
He lives near Berlin.

Genitive:
Die Wärme der Nähe war spürbar.
The warmth of the closeness was noticeable.

Common phrases with Nähe include:

• in der Nähe – nearby

• emotionale Nähe – emotional closeness

• körperliche Nähe – physical closeness

• die Nähe einer Person suchen / meiden – to seek / avoid someone’s closeness

• Nähe und Distanz – closeness and distance

Verbs: suchen (to seek), vermeiden (to avoid), spüren (to feel), genießen (to enjoy), brauchen (to need)
Adjectives: warm, vertraut (familiar), unangenehm (uncomfortable), echte (genuine), unmittelbar (immediate)

Nähe is a beautiful word for describing not just where someone or something is — but how it feels to be close.

Beginner dialogue using Nähe:

A: Wohnst du in der Nähe?
B: Ja, nur fünf Minuten zu Fuß!
A: Do you live nearby?
B: Yes, just five minutes on foot!

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Nähe.

“Zu wem fühlst du am meisten Nähe — und warum?”
Who do you feel closest to — and why?

Take a breath and speak your sentence — Nähe belongs in your active vocabulary.

Duden entry for “Nähe”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say closeness in German — and how die Nähe helps you speak about connection, comfort, and what really matters.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep learning what Germans really say.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Nase — and explore how Germans talk about health, emotion, and humor.
Or revisit Nachricht — and level up your communication vocabulary.