It's not right that both mean "with". If you check them using a online dictionary, you may see the difference better ([1] mit, [2] dabei). Example time :) ** mit - with Ich bin mit Paul im Kino. - I'm at the cinema with Paul. ** dabei - to be present too Ich bin auch bei der Party (dabei). - I'm also at the party. Da bin ich dabei. - I'll come along. - I'm in. I'll highly recommend to check words using dict.leo.org or another dictionary of your liking, it'll give you many synonyms and you'll maybe get a better glance at the meaning. But we all struggle with it for sure ;) I hope this helps, but if not, please ask further. If you have some sentences regarding those words, which you don't fully understand, let's see them, and we could clear them up for you. [1] http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=en&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed§Hdr=on&spellToler=&search=mit [2] http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=en&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed§Hdr=on&spellToler=&search=dabei