A solution is supposed to be created with a method for generating positively and/or negatively ionized gas analytes for gas analysis in an ion mobility spectrometer or in a mass spectrometer, with which method the gas analyte can be ionized without the restrictions of previous ionization methods for gas analysis in an ion mobility spectrometer or in a mass spectrometer, forming positive and/or negative ions.This is achieved in that the positive and/or negative gas ions are generated by means of a plasma, which is brought about by means of a dielectrically inhibited discharge, whereby the dielectrically inhibited discharge is produced in that a noble gas is passed in through a capillary made of a dielectric material, whereby an alternating voltage is applied by means of two electrically insulated electrodes disposed on the capillary adjacent to the exit region of the capillary, and the gas analyte is passed to the exit region outside of the capillary.