Getting Around
Trains
Key Phrases: Trains
Long-Distance Buses
City Buses and Subways
Key Phrases: City Buses and Subways
Taxis
Key Phrases: Taxis
Driving
Key Phrases: Driving
Finding Your Way
German / English Dictionary
English / German Dictionary
This chapter will help you buy transit tickets, get around (by train, bus, subway, taxi, rental car, and foot), and find your way. The German word for journey or trip is Fahrt. Many tourists enjoy long, pleasant Fahrts. You’ll see signs for Einfahrt (entrance), Rundfahrt (round trip), Rückfahrt (return trip), Panoramafahrt (scenic journey), Zugfahrt (train trip), and Ausfahrt (“trip out,” freeway exit). Throughout your trip, people will smile and wish you a Gute Fahrt.
Getting Tickets
| train |
Zug tsoog |
| suburban railway |
S-Bahn ehs-bahn |
| bus |
Bus boos |
| subway |
U-Bahn oo-bahn |
| taxi |
Taxi tahk-see |
| car |
Auto ow-toh (“ow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| walk |
laufen low-fehn (“low” rhymes with “cow”) |
| on foot |
zu Fuss tsoo foos |
| Where is the...? |
Wo ist...? voh ist |
| ...train station |
...der Bahnhof dehr bahn-hohf |
| ...bus station |
...der Busbahnhof dehr boos-bahn-hohf |
| ...bus stop |
...die Bushaltestelle dee boos-hahl-teh-shteh-leh |
| ...subway station |
...die U-Bahn-Station dee oo-bahn-staht-see-ohn |
| ...taxi stand |
...der Taxistand dehr tahk-see-shtahnt |
| I’m going / We’re going to ____. |
Ich fahre / Wir fahren nach ____. ikh far-eh / veer far-ehn nahkh ____ |
| What is the cheapest / fastest / easiest way...? |
Wie komme ich am günstigsten / schnellsten / einfachsten...?
vee koh-meh ikh ahm gewn-stig-stehn / shnehl-stehn / īn-fahkh-stehn |
| ...to downtown |
...zum Zentrum tsoom tsehn-troom |
| ...to the train station |
...zum Bahnhof tsoom bahn-hohf |
| ...to my / our hotel |
...zum meinem / unserem Hotel tsoom mī-nehm / oon-zeh-rehm “hotel” |
| ...to the airport |
...zum Flughafen tsoom floog-hah-fehn |
In German, there are two different ways of saying “to go.” If going somewhere by foot, use gehen; on wheels, use fahren.
Ticket Basics
Ticket Specifics
Key Phrases: Trains
Train Reservations
Discounts
At the Train Station
Train and Bus Schedules
Destinations
All Aboard
Changing Trains
For tips and strategies about rail travel and railpasses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, see www.ricksteves.com/rail. Note that many of the following train phrases work for long-distance bus travel as well.
| ticket |
Fahrkarte far-kar-teh |
| reservation |
Reservierung / Platzkarte reh-zehr-veer-oong / plahts-kar-teh |
| ticket counter |
Kartenschalter kar-tehn-shahl-tehr |
| ticket machine |
Fahrkartenautomat far-kar-tehn-ow-toh-maht |
| validate |
entwerten ehnt-vehr-tehn |
| Where can I buy a ticket? |
Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? voh kahn ikh ī-neh far-kar-teh kow-fehn |
| Is this the line for...? |
Ist hier die Schlange für...? ist heer dee shlahng-eh fewr |
| ...tickets |
...Fahrkarten far-kar-tehn |
| ...reservations |
...Reservierungen reh-zehr-veer-oong-ehn |
| ...information |
...Information in-for-maht-see-ohn |
| One ticket (to ____). |
Eine Fahrkarte (nach ____). ī-neh far-kar-teh (nahkh ____) |
| Two tickets. |
Zwei Fahrkarten. tsvī far-kar-tehn |
| I want to go to ____. |
Ich möchte nach ____. ikh murkh-teh nahkh ____ |
| How much (is a ticket to ____)? |
Wie viel (kostet eine Fahrkarte nach ____)? vee feel (kohs-teht ī-neh far-kar-teh nahkh ____) |
| one-way ticket |
Hinfahrkarte hin-far-kar-teh |
| round-trip ticket |
Rückfahrkarte rewk-far-kar-teh |
| today / tomorrow |
heute / morgen hoy-teh / mor-gehn |
A ticket can also be called a Fahrausweis, a Fahrschein, or (in Switzerland) a Billett.
For phrases related to discounts (such as for children, families, or seniors), SEE HERE.
| schedule |
Fahrplan far-plahn |
| When is the next train (to ____)? |
Wann fährt der nächste Zug (nach ____)? vahn fehrt dehr nehkh-steh tsoog (nahkh ____) |
| What time does it leave? |
Um wie viel Uhr fährt er ab? oom vee feel oor fehrt ehr ahp |
| I’d like / We’d like to leave... |
Ich möchte / Wir möchten... abfahren. ikh murkh-teh / veer murkh-tehn... ahp-far-ehn |
| I’d like / We’d like to arrive... |
Ich möchte / Wir möchten... ankommen. ikh murkh-teh / veer murkh-tehn... ahn-koh-mehn |
| ...by ____ o’clock. |
...bis ____ Uhr bis ____ oor |
| ...at ____ o’clock... |
...um ____ Uhr... um ____ oor |
| ...in the morning / afternoon / evening. |
...am Morgen / Nachmittag / Abend ahm mor-gehn / nahkh-mit-tahg / ah-behnt |
| Is there a...? |
Gibt es einen...? gibt ehs ī-nehn |
| ...earlier train |
...früheren Zug frew-ehr-ehn tsoog |
| ...later train |
...späteren Zug shpay-tehr-ehn tsoog |
| ...overnight train |
...Nachtzug nahkht-tsoog |
| ...cheaper train |
...günstigeren Zug gewn-stig-ehr-ehn tsoog |
| ...express train |
...Schnellzug shnehl-tsoog |
| ...direct train |
...Direktzug dee-rehkt-tsoog |
| Direct? |
Direkt? dee-rehkt |
| Is a transfer required? |
Muss man umsteigen? moos mahn oom-shtī-gehn |
| How many transfers? |
Wie oft muss man Umsteigen? vee oft moos mahn oom-shtī-gehn |
| When? Where? |
Wann? Wo? vahn / voh |
| first / second class |
erste / zweite Klasse ehr-steh / tsvī-teh klah-seh |
| How long is this ticket valid? |
Wie lange ist diese Fahrkarte gültig? vee lahng-eh ist dee-zeh far-kar-teh gewl-tig |
| Can you validate my railpass? |
Können Sie bitte meinen Fahrschein validieren? kurn-ehn zee bit-teh mī-nehn far-shīn vah-lee-deer-ehn |
At the train station, you can buy tickets at the ticket windows; at machines; or, at larger stations, in the Reisezentrum (travel center). Be sure you go to the correct window: Head to Fahrkarten or Fahrscheine for tickets, Reservierungen for reservations, Inland for domestic trips, and Ausland for international routes. On tickets, 1. (or 1. Klasse) means first class, and 2. (or 2. Klasse) means second class.
When using ticket machines, you might see these instructions: Bitte wählen Sie (please select), Zahlbar mit... (payable with—cash, credit card, etc.), and Annahme von Banknoten (acceptance of banknotes—where to insert your cash).
Whether you use a railpass or point-to-point tickets, you can pay a little extra for a Reservierung (seat reservation). Reserving a seat is often optional, but can be a good idea for busy routes at popular times. Some high-speed international trains require railpass-holders to buy a reservation—look for the 
symbol in the timetable. If you buy a ticket for a slow train, then decide to take a fast one instead, you might have to pay a Zuschlag (supplement). If you have a railpass, it already covers supplements on trains in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
| Is a reservation required? |
Brauche ich eine Reservierung? browkh-eh ikh ī-neh reh-zehr-veer-oong |
| I’d like / We’d like to reserve... |
Ich möchte / Wir möchten... reservieren. ikh murkh-teh / veer murkh-tehn... reh-zehr-veer-ehn |
| ...a seat. |
...einen Sitzplatz ī-nehn zits-plahts |
| ...an aisle seat. |
...einen Sitzplatz am Gang ī-nehn zits-plahts ahm gahng |
| ...a window seat. |
...einen Sitzplatz am Fenster ī-nehn zits-plahts ahm fehn-stehr |
| ...two seats. |
...zwei Sitzplätze tsvī zits-pleht-seh |
| ...a couchette (sleeping berth). |
...einen Liegewagenplatz ī-nehn lee-geh-vah-gehn-plahts |
| ...an upper / middle / lower berth. |
...einen oberen / mittleren / unteren Liegewagenplatz ī-nehn oh-beh-rehn / mit-leh-rehn / oon-teh-rehn lee-geh-vah-gehn-plahts |
| ...two couchettes. |
...zwei Liegewagenplätze tsvī lee-geh-vah-gehn-pleht-seh |
| ...a sleeper. |
...einen Schlafwagenplatz ī-nehn shlahf-vah-gehn-plahts |
| ...a sleeper with two beds. |
...ein Zweibett-Schlafabteil īn tsvī-beht-schlahf-ahp-tīl |
| ...the entire train. |
...den ganzen Zug dayn gahnt-sehn tsoog |
| Is there a cheaper option? |
Gibt es eine günstigere Variante? gibt ehs ī-neh gewn-stig-ehr-eh vah-ree-ahn-teh |
| discount |
Ermässigung ehr-may-see-goong |
| reduced fare |
verbilligte Karte fehr-bil-lig-teh kar-teh |
| refund |
Rückzahlung rewk-tsah-loong |
| Is there a discount for...? |
Gibt es eine Ermässigung für...? gibt ehs ī-neh ehr-may-see-goong fewr |
| ...children |
...Kinder kin-dehr |
| ...youths |
...Jugendliche yoo-gehnd-likh-eh |
| ...seniors |
...Senioren zehn-yor-ehn |
| ...families |
...Familien fah-meel-yehn |
| ...groups |
...Gruppen groop-ehn |
| ...advance purchase |
...vorverkauf for-fehr-kowf |
| ...weekends |
...Wochenende vohkh-ehn-ehn-deh |
| Are there any deals for this journey? |
Gibt es Sonderangebote für diese Reise? gibt ehs zohn-dehr-ahn-geh-boh-teh fewr dee-zeh rī-zeh |
Germany and Austria offer a wide array of discounts for point-to-point tickets—the price varies dramatically depending on when you buy. Discounted prices, which are advertised at train stations and websites, are called SparSchiene in Austria and Sparpreis in Germany. Other special offers in Germany include unlimited travel on slower regional trains within one of the country’s “states” (Länder-Ticket) or on weekends (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket). Ask the ticket clerk about your options.
Bahnhof (Bf.) means train station. Big cities can have several, but the Hauptbahnhof (Hbf.) is the main one.
| Where is the train station / main train station? |
Wo ist der Bahnhof / Hauptbahnhof? voh ist dehr bahn-hohf / howpt-bahn-hohf |
| train information |
Zugauskunft tsoog-ows-koonft |
| travel center |
Reisezentrum rī-zeh-tsehn-troom |
| ticket counter |
Kartenschalter kar-ten-shahl-tehr |
| tickets |
Fahrkarten far-kar-tehn |
| departure / arrival |
Abfahrt / Ankunft ahp-fart / ahn-koonft |
| On time? |
Pünktlich? pewnkt-likh |
| Late? |
Verspätet? fehr-shpay-teht |
| How late? |
Wie spät? vee shpayt |
| platform |
Bahnsteig bahn-shtīg |
| track |
Gleis glīs |
| What track does it leave from? |
Von welchem Gleis fährt er ab? fohn vehlkh-ehm glīs fehrt ehr ahp |
| waiting room |
Wartesaal var-teh-zahl |
| lockers |
Schliessfächer shlees-fehkh-ehr |
| baggage check |
Gepäckaufgabe geh-pehk-owf-gah-beh |
| tourist information |
Touristeninformation too-ris-tehn-in-for-maht-see-ohn |
| lost and found office |
Fundbüro foond-bew-roh |
| toilets |
Toiletten toy-leh-tehn |
Every sizeable German rail station has a Reisezentrum (travel center) where you can buy tickets and reservations, get schedule information, and ask questions. You’ll either wait in line or take a number (Nummer ziehen). The number readout screen says Anruf (the number currently being served) and Schalter (the numbered window to report to).
At bigger stations, you might see posted a Bahnhofs-Übersichtsplan (train-station floor plan), Städteverbindungen (information about connections to nearby places), or Stadtplan (city map).
Each country has its own railway company: German trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB, day bay); in Austria, it’s Österreichische Bundesbahn (ÖBB, ur bay bay); and Switzerland has the Schweizer Bundesbahn (SBB, ehs bay bay).
European timetables use the 24-hour clock. It’s like American time until noon. After that, subtract twelve and add p.m. So 13:00 is 1 p.m., and 19:00 is 7 p.m. Here are common scheduling terms:
| ab |
from |
| Abfahrt |
departure |
| an |
to |
| Ankunft |
arrival |
| auch |
also |
| ausser |
except |
| bis |
until |
| etwa ____ Min. später |
about ____ minutes late |
| fährt |
goes |
| Feiertag |
holiday |
| Fernverkehr |
long-distance transportation |
| Gleis (Gl.) |
track number / platform |
| geteilt |
split (indicates at which stop a train splits) |
| hält nicht überall |
does not make every stop |
| hinterer Zugteil |
back section (train splits en route) |
| jede |
every |
| Minuten (Min.) |
minutes |
| nach |
to |
| nicht |
not |
| nur |
only |
| Richtung |
direction and / or final destination |
| Samstag |
Saturday |
| Sonntag |
Sunday |
| später |
later (than scheduled) |
| Stunden (Std.) |
hours |
| täglich (tgl.) |
daily |
| tagsüber |
during the day |
| über |
via |
| verspätet |
late |
| Verspätung (Versp.) |
delay |
| von |
from |
| voraussichtlich (Vor.) |
estimated (as in an arrival time) |
| vorderer Zugteil |
front section (train splits en route) |
| Werktags |
Monday–Saturday (workdays) |
| Wochentags |
weekdays |
| Zeit |
time |
| Ziel |
destination |
| Zug |
train (type and number) |
| Zugteilung |
train splits |
| 1–5 / 6 / 7 |
Monday–Friday / Saturday / Sunday |
Some trains split partway along a journey (Zugteilung), sending the front and back halves of the train cars to different destinations. If you read schedules carefully—then check signs posted in the window of each train car—you can anticipate this and be sure you wind up on the correct half.
Despite what you’ve heard about the punctuality of German (or Swiss or Austrian) trains, delays aren’t uncommon. Look and listen for announcements such as etwa 15 Min. später (about 15 minutes late) or Voraussichtlich 15 Min Verspätung (estimated 15-minute delay), likely to be abbreviated as Vor. 15 Min Versp. The latter implies that the train may come anytime between now and that point.
Sometimes, instead of using numbers, days of the week are abbreviated this way:
| Mo |
Monday |
| Di |
Tuesday |
| Mi |
Wednesday |
| Do |
Thursday |
| Fr |
Friday |
| Sa |
Saturday |
| So |
Sunday |
Place names in German can differ dramatically from their English names for the same place. If clerks at train stations and train conductors don’t understand your pronunciation, write the town name on a piece of paper.
| Germany |
Deutschland doytch-lahnd |
| Baltic Sea |
Ostsee ohst-zay |
| Bavaria |
Bayern bī-ehrn |
| Black Forest |
Schwarzwald shvarts-vahlt |
| Cologne |
Köln kurln |
| Lake Constance |
Bodensee boh-den-zay |
| Mosel Valley |
Moseltal moh-zehl-tahl |
| Munich |
München mewns-yehn |
| Nuremberg |
Nürnberg newrn-behrg |
| Rhine (Valley) |
Rhein(-tal) rīn(-tahl) |
| Romantic Road |
Romantische Strasse roh-mahn-tish-eh shtrah-seh |
| Austria |
Österreich urs-tehr-rīkh |
| Austrian Lake District |
Salzkammergut zahlts-kahm-ehr-goot |
| Danube |
Donau doh-now |
| Vienna |
Wien veen |
| Switzerland |
die Schweiz dee shvīts |
| Geneva |
Genf gehnf |
| Lake Geneva |
Genfersee gehn-fehr-zay |
| Lucerne |
Luzern loo-tsehrn |
| Lake Lucerne |
Vierwaldstättersee feer-vahlt-sheht-ehr-zay |
In the station, signs direct you zu den Zügen (to the trains). The electronic train information board posted above the track lists Ankunft (the time the train arrives), Abfahrt (when it will depart), and a list of major stops. For express trains, it might say hält nicht überall (does not make every stop). The Wagenstandanzeiger (train-car configuration diagram) shows you where to wait for your car along the platform.
| platform |
Bahnsteig bahn-shtīg |
| track |
Gleis glīs |
| number |
Nummer noo-mehr |
| train car |
Wagen vah-gehn |
| conductor |
Schaffner shahf-nehr |
| Is this the train to ____? |
Ist das der Zug nach ____? ist dahs dehr tsoog nahkh ____ |
| Which train to ____? |
Welcher ist der Zug nach ____? vehlkh-ehr ist dehr tsoog nahkh ____ |
| Which train car to ____? |
Welcher Wagen fährt nach ____? vehlkh-ehr vah-gehn fehrt nahkh ____ |
| Where is...? |
Wo ist...? voh ist |
| Is this...? |
Ist dieser...? ist dee-zehr |
| ...my seat |
...mein Platz mīn plahts |
| ...first / second class |
...erste (1.) / zweite (2.) Klasse ehr-steh / tsvī-teh klah-seh |
| ...the dining car |
...der Speisewagen dehr shpī-zeh-vah-gehn |
| ...the sleeper car |
...der Liegewagen dehr lee-geh-vah-gehn |
| ...the toilet |
...die Toilette dee toy-leh-teh |
| front / middle / back |
vorne / mitte / hinten for-neh / mit-teh / hin-tehn |
| reserved / occupied / free |
reserviert / besetzt / frei reh-zehr-veert / beh-zehtst / frī |
| aisle / window |
Gang / Fenster gahng / fehn-stehr |
| Is this seat free? |
Ist hier frei? ist heer frī |
| May I / May we...? |
Darf ich / Dürfen wir...? darf ikh / dewr-fehn veer |
| ...sit here |
...hier sitzen heer zit-sehn |
| ...open the window |
...das Fenster öffnen dahs fehn-stehr urf-nehn |
| ...eat here |
...hier essen heer eh-sehn |
| ...eat your meal |
...Ihre Mahlzeit essen ee-reh mahl-tsīt eh-sehn |
| (I believe) that’s my seat. |
(Ich glaube) das ist mein Platz. (ikh glow-beh) dahs ist mīn plahts (“glow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| These are our seats. |
Das sind unsere Plätze. dahs zint oon-zeh-reh pleht-seh |
| Save my place? |
Halten Sie meinen Platz frei? hahl-tehn zee mī-nehn plahts frī |
| Save our places? |
Halten Sie unsere Plätze frei? hahl-tehn zee oon-zeh-reh pleht-seh frī |
| Where are you going? |
Wohin fahren Sie? voh-hin far-ehn zee |
| I’m going / We’re going to ____. |
Ich fahre / Wir fahren nach ____. ikh far-eh / veer far-ehn nahkh ____ |
| Does this train stop in ____? |
Hält dieser Zug in ____? hehlt dee-zehr tsoog in ____ |
| When will it arrive? |
Wann kommt er an? vahn kohmt ehr ahn |
| When will it arrive in ____? |
Wann kommt er in ____ an? vahn kohmt ehr in ____ ahn |
| Where is a (handsome) conductor? |
Wo ist ein (hübscher) Schaffner? voh ist īn (hewb-shehr) shahf-nehr |
| Can you tell me when to get off? |
Können Sie mir sagen wenn ich raus muss? kurn-ehn zee meer zah-gehn vehn ikh rows moos |
| I need to get off. |
Ich muss hier aussteigen. ikh moos heer ows-shtī-gehn |
| How do I open the door? |
Wie öffne ich die Tür? vee urf-neh ikh dee tewr |
Steigen (shtī-gehn) is a handy all-purpose word that you can use for various modes of transportation such as trains and buses. Useful terms include einsteigen (to get on), aussteigen (to get off), and umsteigen (to transfer).
As you approach a station on the train, you’ll hear an announcement such as In wenigen Minuten erreichen wir München (In a few minutes, we will arrive in Munich).
| Change here for ____? |
Hier umsteigen nach ____? heer oom-shtī-gehn nahkh ____ |
| Where does one change for ____? |
Wo muss man für ____ umsteigen? voh moos mahn fewr ____ oom-shtī-gehn |
| At what time? |
Um wie viel Uhr? oom vee feel oor |
| From what track does the connecting train leave? |
Auf welchem Gleis fährt der Verbindungszug? owf vehlkh-ehm glīs fehrt dehr fehr-bin-doongs-tsoog |
| How many minutes in ____ (to change trains)? |
Wie viele Minuten (zum Umsteigen) in ____?
vee fee-leh mee-noo-tehn (tsoom oom-shtī-gehn) in ____ |
A few journeys in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland are better by bus. Many routes are operated by the post office (Postbus); others, such as Germany’s famous Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road), use tourist buses. While there may be a designated bus station, usually buses simply leave from in front of the train station.
| long-distance bus |
Fernbus fehrn-boos |
| regional bus |
Regional bus reh-gee-ohn-ahl-boos |
| bus station |
Busbahnhof boos-bahn-hohf |
| mega-bus station and public-transit hub |
Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) tsehn-trah-lehr ohm-nee-boos-bahn-hohf (tseht oh bay) |
| stall / platform |
Haltestelle hahl-teh-shteh-leh |
| How many minutes here? |
Wie viele Minuten hier? vee fee-leh mee-noo-tehn heer |
For more tips on interpreting schedules, SEE HERE.
Ticket Talk
Key Phrases: City Buses and Subways
Transit Terms
Public Transit
Most big cities offer deals on transportation, such as one-day tickets, cheaper fares for youths and seniors, or a discount for buying a batch of tickets (which you can share with friends—called Mehrfahrkarten Ermässigung). If you’re taking a short trip (usually three stops or fewer), buy a discounted Kurzstrecke (“short stretch” ticket). For more discount-related terms, SEE HERE.
| Where can I buy a ticket? |
Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? voh kahn ikh ī-neh far-kar-teh kow-fehn |
| I want to go to ____. |
Ich möchte nach ____. ikh murkh-teh nahkh ____ |
| How much (is a ticket to ____)? |
Wie viel (kostet eine Fahrkarte nach ____)?
vee feel (kohs-teht ī-neh far-kar-teh nahkh ____) |
| single trip |
Einzelfahrt īnt-sehl-fart |
| short-ride ticket |
Kurzstrecke koorts-shtreh-keh |
| day ticket |
Tageskarte tahg-ehs-kar-teh |
| discounted batch of tickets |
Mehrfahrkarten Ermässigung mehr-far-kar-tehn ehr-may-see-goong |
| Is this ticket valid for ____ (place name)? |
Ist diese Fahrkarte gültig nach ____? ist dee-zeh far-kar-teh gewl-tig nahkh ____ |
| Is there a...? |
Gibt es eine...? gibt ehs ī-neh |
| ...day ticket |
...Tageskarte tahg-ehs-kar-teh |
| ...discount if I buy more tickets |
...Preisnachlass, wenn ich mehrere Fahrkarten kaufe
prīs-nahkh-lahs vehn ikh meh-reh-reh far-kar-tehn kow-feh |
| Can I buy a ticket on board? |
Kann ich an Bord Fahrkarten kaufen?
kahn ikh ahn bord far-kar-tehn kow-fehn |
| Do you give change? |
Geben Sie Rückgeld? gay-behn zee rewk-gehlt |
| validate (here) |
(hier) entwerten (heer) ehnt-vehr-tehn |
In many cities, you are required to entwerten (validate) your ticket by sticking it into a validation machine as you enter the subway station, bus, or tram. If you have an all-day or multi-day ticket, validate it only the first time you use it.
Big cities can have various types of public transit, including U-Bahn (Untergrund-Bahn, subway); S-Bahn (Schnellbahn, suburban train); Bus (bus); and Strassenbahn or Trambahn, or simply Tram (streetcar/tram).
| city bus |
Linienbus leen-yehn-boos |
| bus stop |
Bushaltestelle boos-hahl-teh-shteh-leh |
| bus map |
Buslinienplan boos-leen-yehn-plahn |
| subway / suburban train |
U-Bahn / S-Bahn oo-bahn / ehs-bahn |
| subway station |
U-Bahn-Station oo-bahn-staht-see-ohn |
| subway map |
Netzplan nehts-plahn |
| network map |
Linniennetz leen-yehn-nehts |
| subway entrance |
U-Bahn-Eingang oo-bahn-īn-gahng |
| subway stop |
U-Bahn-Haltestelle oo-bahn-hahl-teh-shteh-leh |
| subway exit |
U-Bahn-Ausgang oo-bahn-ows-gahng |
| line (bus or subway number) |
Linie (nummer) leen-yeh (noo-mehr) |
| direction |
Richtung rikh-toong |
| direct |
Direkt dee-rehkt |
| connection |
Verbindung fehr-bin-doong |
| stop requested |
Wagen hält vah-gehn hehlt |
| customer service center |
Kundencenter koon-dehn-”center” |
| pickpocket |
Taschendieb tahsh-ehn-deep |
The Liniennetz (“line network”) is a map of the city’s public transit, often accompanied by the Fahrplan (timetable) and Tarif (ticket prices). In large cities, how much you pay may depend on which zone (Preisstufe) you’re in.
At the subway platform or bus stop, you might see a digital information board with these columns: Linie (line number), Ziel or Richtung (end station or direction), and Abfahrt in Min. (minutes until next departure). At night, most public transit shuts down, but a few Nachtlinien (night lines) keep running.
| How do I get to ____? |
Wie komme ich zu ____? vee koh-meh ikh tsoo ____ |
| How do we get to ____? |
Wie kommen wir zu ____? vee koh-mehn veer tsoo ____ |
| Which bus to ____? (short trip within town) |
Welcher Bus zu ____? vehlkh-ehr boos tsoo ____ |
| Which bus to ____? (to different town) |
Welcher Bus nach ____? vehlkh-ehr boos nahkh ____ |
| Does it stop at ____? |
Hält er in ____? hehlt ehr in ____ |
| Which bus stop for ____? |
Welche Haltestelle für ____? vehlkh-eh hahl-teh-shteh-leh fewr ____ |
| Which subway stop for ____? |
Welcher Halt für ____? vehlkh-ehr hahlt fewr ____ |
| Which direction for ____? |
Welche Richtung nach ____? vehlkh-eh rikh-toong nahkh ____ |
| Is a transfer necessary? |
Muss man umsteigen? moos mahn oom-shtī-gehn |
| When is the...? |
Wann fährt der... ab? vahn fehrt dehr... ahp |
| ...first / next / last... |
...erste / nächste / letzte... ehr-steh / nehkh-steh / lehts-teh |
| ...bus / subway |
...Bus / U-Bahn boos / oo-bahn |
| How often does it run (per hour / day)? |
Wie oft fährt er (pro Stunde / Tag)? vee ohft fehrt ehr (proh shtoon-deh / tahg) |
| When does the next one leave? |
Wann fährt der nächste? vahn fehrt dehr nehkh-steh |
| Where does it leave from? |
Von wo fährt er ab? fohn voh fehrt ehr ahp |
| Can you tell me when to get off? |
Können Sie mir sagen wenn ich raus muss? kurn-ehn zee meer zah-gehn vehn ikh rows moos |
| I need to get off here. |
Ich muss hier aussteigen. ikh moos heer ows-shtī-gehn |
| How do I open the door? |
Wie öffne ich die Tür? vee urf-neh ikh dee tewr |
If you press the button to request a stop on a bus or tram, a sign lights up that says Wagen hält (Car is stopping). Upon arrival, you might have to press a button or pull a lever to open the door (Tür öffnen)—watch locals and imitate.
Getting a Taxi
Key Phrases: Taxis
Cabbie Conversation
Taxis are generally affordable, efficient, and worth considering. They usually take up to four people and allow you to ride in style—usually in a BMW or Mercedes. If you have trouble flagging down a taxi, ask for directions to a Taxistand or seek out a big hotel where they’re waiting for guests. The simplest way to tell a cabbie where you want to go is by stating your destination followed by “please” (Hofbräuhaus, bitte). Tipping isn’t expected, but it’s polite to round up—if the fare is €19, give €20.
| Taxi! |
Taxi! tahk-see |
| Can you call a taxi? |
Können Sie mir ein Taxi rufen? kurn-ehn zee meer īn tahk-see roo-fehn |
| Where can I get a taxi? |
Wo finde ich ein Taxi? voh fin-deh ikh īn tahk-see |
| Where is a taxi stand? |
Wo ist ein Taxistand? voh ist īn tahk-see-shtahnt |
| Are you free? |
Sind Sie frei? zint zee frī |
| Occupied. |
Besetzt. beh-zehtst |
| To ____, please. |
Zum ____, bitte. tsoom ____ bit-teh |
| To this address. |
Zu dieser Adresse. tsoo dee-zehr ah-dreh-seh |
| How much is it to...? |
Wie viel kostet es...? vee feel kohs-teht ehs |
| ...the airport |
...zum Flughafen tsoom floog-hah-fehn |
| ...the train station |
...zum Bahnhof tsoom bahn-hohf |
| ...this address |
...zu dieser Adresse tsoo dee-zehr ah-dreh-seh |
| Is there a supplement? |
Ist ein Zuschlag nötig? ist īn tsoo-shlahg nur-tig |
| Too much. |
Zu viel. tsoo feel |
| Can you take ____ people? |
Können Sie ____ Personen mitnehmen? kurn-ehn zee ____ pehr-zoh-nehn mit-nay-mehn |
| Any extra fee? |
Extra Gebühren? “extra” geh-bew-rehn |
| Do you have an hourly rate? |
Haben Sie einen Stundenansatz? hah-behn zee ī-nehn shtoon-dehn-ahn-zahts |
| How much per hour? |
Wie viel pro Stunde? vee feel proh shtoon-deh |
| How much for a one-hour city tour? |
Wie viel für eine Stunde Stadtbesichtigung? vee feel fewr ī-neh shtoon-deh shtaht-beh-sikh-tig-oong |
Before hopping in a taxi, it’s smart to ask Wie viel kostet es zum ____? (How much is it to ____?).
| The meter, please. |
Das Taxameter, bitte. dahs tahk-sah-meh-tehr bit-teh |
| Where is the meter? |
Wo ist das Taxameter? voh ist dahs tahk-sah-meh-tehr |
| I’m in a hurry. |
Ich habe es eilig. ikh hah-beh ehs ī-lig |
| We’re in a hurry. |
Wir haben es eilig. veer hah-behn ehs ī-lig |
| Slow down. |
Fahren Sie langsamer. far-ehn zee lahng-zah-mehr |
| If you don’t slow down, I’ll throw up. |
Wenn Sie nicht langsamer fahren, muss ich kotzen.
vehn zee nikht lahng-zah-mehr far-ehn moos ikh koht-sehn |
| Left. |
Links. links |
| Right. |
Rechts. rehkhts |
| Straight ahead. |
Geradeaus. geh-rah-deh-ows |
| Please stop here... |
Bitte halten Sie... hier. bit-teh hahl-tehn zee... heer |
| ...for a moment. |
...für einen Moment fewr ī-nehn moh-mehnt |
| ...for ____ minutes. |
...für ____ Minuten fewr ____ mee-noo-tehn |
| Can you wait? |
Können Sie warten? kurn-ehn zee var-tehn |
| Crazy traffic, isn’t it? |
Verrückter Verkehr, nicht? fehr-rewk-tehr fehr-kehr nikht |
| You drive like a madman! |
Sie fahren wie ein Verrückter! zee far-ehn vee īn fehr-rewk-tehr |
| You drive very well. |
Sie fahren sehr gut. zee far-ehn zehr goot |
| I can see it from here. |
Ich kann es von hier sehen. ikh kahn ehs fohn heer zay-ehn |
| Point it out? |
Zeigen Sie es mir? tsī-gehn zee ehs meer |
| Stop here. |
Halten Sie hier. hahl-tehn zee heer |
| Here is fine. |
Hier ist gut. heer ist goot |
| At this corner. |
An dieser Ecke. ahn dee-zehr ehk-eh |
| The next corner. |
An der nächsten Ecke. ahn dehr nehkh-stehn ehk-eh |
| My change, please. |
Mein Wechselgeld, bitte. mīn vehkh-sehl-gehlt bit-teh |
| Keep the change. |
Stimmt so. shtimt zoh |
| This ride is / was more fun than Disneyland. |
Diese Fahrt ist / war lustiger als Disneyland. dee-zehr fart ist / var loos-tig-ehr ahls “Disneyland” |
Renting Wheels
Key Phrases: Driving
Getting to Know Your Rental Car
Traffic Troubles
At the Gas Station
Parking
Car Trouble and Parts
The Police
| I’d like to rent a... |
Ich möchte ein... mieten. ikh murkh-teh īn... mee-tehn |
| ...car. |
...Auto ow-toh |
| ...station wagon. |
...Kombi kohm-bee |
| ...van. |
...Kleinbus klīn-boos |
| ...convertible. |
...Kabrio kah-bree-oh |
| ...motorcycle. |
...Motorrad moh-tor-raht |
| ...motor scooter. |
...Motorroller moh-tor-roh-lehr |
| How much per...? |
Wie viel pro...? vee feel proh |
| ...hour |
...Stunde shtoon-deh |
| ...(half) day |
...(halben) Tag (hahl-behn) tahg |
| ...week |
...Woche vohkh-eh |
| car rental agency |
Autovermietung / Autoverleih ow-toh-fehr-mee-toong / ow-toh-fehr-lī |
| tax / insurance |
Steuer / Versicherung shtoy-ehr / fehr-zikh-ehr-oong |
| Including taxes and insurance? |
Inklusive Steuer und Versicherung? in-kloo-zee-veh shtoy-ehr oont fehr-zikh-ehr-oong |
| Any extra fee? |
Zuschlagsgebühr? tsoo-shlahgs-geh-bewr |
| Unlimited mileage? |
Unbegrenzte Kilometer? oon-beh-grents-teh kee-loh-may-tehr |
| manual / automatic |
Schaltgetriebe / Automatikgetriebe shahlt-geh-tree-beh / ow-toh-mah-teek-geh-tree-beh |
| pick up / drop off |
abholen / abgeben ahp-hoh-lehn / ahp-gay-behn |
| Is there a...? |
Gibt es eine...? gibt ehs ī-neh |
| ...discount |
...Ermässigung ehr-may-see-goong |
| ...deposit |
...Kaution kowt-see-ohn |
| ...helmet |
...Helm hehlm |
| When must I bring it back? |
Wann muss ich es zurückbringen? vahn moos ikh ehs tsoo-rewk-bring-ehn |
| Can I drop it off in another city? |
Kann ich es in einer anderen Stadt abgeben? kahn ikh ehs in ī-nehr ahn-deh-rehn shtaht ahp-gay-behn |
| Can I drop it off in ____? |
Kann ich es in ____ abgeben? kahn ikh ehs in ____ ahp-gay-behn |
| How do I get to the expressway / to ____? |
Wie komme ich zur Autobahn / nach ____?
vee koh-meh ikh tsoor ow-toh-bahn / nahkh ____ |
Before leaving the car-rental office, get directions to your next destination—or at least to the expressway. While those famous expressways (Autobahnen) are toll-free in Germany, both Austria and Switzerland require motorists to pay for a toll sticker (Vignette) to use theirs. If your rental car doesn’t already have one, buy one at the border crossing (or at a big gas station near the border) and stick it to the inside of your windshield.
For all the details on the dizzying variety of insurance options, see www.ricksteves.com/cdw. If you’d rather rent a bike, SEE HERE.
Before driving off, familiarize yourself with your rental car. Examine it to be sure that all damage is already noted on the rental agreement so you won’t be held responsible for it later.
| It’s damaged here. |
Hier ist es beschädigt. heer ist ehs beh-shay-digt |
| Please add it to the rental agreement. |
Bitte notieren sie es auf dem Mietvertrag. bit-teh noh-teer-ehn zee ehs owf dehm meet-fehr-trahg |
| The scratch / The dent was already here. |
Der Kratzer / Die Beule war schon hier. dehr kraht-sehr / dee boy-leh var shohn heer |
| What kind of fuel does it take? |
Was für Benzin nimmt er? vahs fewr behnt-seen nimt ehr |
| gas |
Benzin behnt-seen |
| diesel / unleaded |
Diesel / Bleifrei “diesel” / blī-frī |
| How do I open the gas cap? |
Wie öffne ich der Tankverschluss? vee urf-neh ikh dehr tahnk-fehr-shloos |
| How does this work? |
Wie funktioniert das? vee foonkt-see-ohn-eert dahs |
| key |
Schlüssel shlew-sehl |
| headlights |
Scheinwerfer shīn-vehr-fehr |
| radio |
Radio rah-dee-oh |
| windshield wipers |
Scheibenwischer shī-behn-vish-ehr |
| alarm / security system |
Alarm / Sicherheits-system ah-larm / sikh-ehr-hīts-see-stehm |
| How do I turn off the security system? |
Wie schalte ich den Alarm aus? vee shahl-teh ikh dehn ah-larm ows |
| GPS |
GPS gay peh ehs |
| How do I change the language to English? |
Wie wechsel ich die Sprache nach Englisch? vee vehkh-sehl ikh dee sprahkh-eh nahkh ehng-lish |
Sometimes you can rent a GPS device with your car. The language for the menus and instructions can be changed to English.
| traffic |
Verkehr fehr-kehr |
| traffic jam |
Stau shtow |
| rush hour |
Rush Hour / Stossverkehr “rush hour” / shtohs-fehr-kehr |
| delay |
Verspätung fehr-shpay-toong |
| construction |
Baustelle bow-shteh-leh (“bow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| accident |
Unfall oon-fahl |
| detour |
Umleitung oom-lī-toong |
| How long is the delay? |
Wie lange ist die Wartezeit? vee lahng-eh ist dee var-teht-sīt |
| Is there another way to go? |
Gibt es eine andere Fahrstrecke? gibt ehs ī-neh ahn-deh-reh far-shtreh-keh |
For more navigational words, see “Finding Your Way,” SEE HERE.
The backed-up line caused by an insensitive slow driver is called an Autoschlange, or “car snake.” Locals joke: What’s the difference between a car snake and a real snake? On a real snake, the ass is in the back.
Getting gas is a piece of Strudel. Unleaded is Bleifrei (which can be Normal or Super), and diesel is Diesel. Gas prices are listed per liter, and there are about four liters in a gallon.
| gas station |
Tankstelle tahnk-shteh-leh |
| The nearest gas station? |
Die nächste Tankstelle? dee nehkh-steh tahnk-shteh-leh |
| Self-service? |
Selbstbedienung? zehlpst-beh-dee-noong |
| Fill the tank. |
Volltanken. fohl-tahnk-ehn |
| I need... |
Ich brauche... ikh browkh-eh |
| ...gas. |
...Benzin. behnt-seen |
| ...unleaded. |
...Bleifrei. blī-frī |
| ...regular. |
...Normal. nor-mahl |
| ...super. |
...Super. zoo-pehr |
| ...diesel. |
...Diesel. “diesel” |
| parking lot / parking space |
Parkplatz park-plahts |
| garage |
Garage / Parkhaus gah-rah-zheh / park-hows |
| ticket machine |
Automat ow-toh-maht |
| parking meter |
Parkuhr park-oor |
| parking clock (to put on dashboard) |
Parkscheibe park-shī-beh |
| available / full |
frei / besetzt frī / beh-zehtst |
| Where can I park? |
Wo kann ich parken? voh kahn ikh par-kehn |
| Is parking nearby? |
Gibt es Parkplätze in der Nähe? gibt ehs park-pleht-seh in dehr nay-heh |
| Can I park here? |
Darf ich hier parken? darf ikh heer par-kehn |
| Is it safe? |
Ist es sicher? ist ehs zikh-ehr |
| How long can I park here? |
Wie lange darf ich hier parken? vee lahng-eh darf ikh heer par-kehn |
| Is it free? |
Ist es kostenlos? ist ehs kohs-tehn-lohs |
| Where do I pay? |
Wo bezahlt man? voh beht-sahlt mahn |
| How much per hour / day? |
Wie viel pro Stunde / Tag? vee feel proh shtoon-deh / tahg |
Park legally, and get safe parking tips from your hotel. Leave nothing of value in your car.
Free but time-limited parking spaces use the cardboard clock (Parkscheibe; you’ll usually find one in your rental car). Put the clock on your dashboard with your arrival time so parking attendants can see you’ve been there less than the posted maximum stay. At pay parking spaces, you’ll pre-pay for the length of your stay. Find the ticket machine (Automat) or parking meter (Parkuhr, usually about one or two per block), and pay for the amount of time you need. If the machine issues a receipt (Parkschein), you’ll generally put it on your dashboard. A garage (called simply Garage, or sometimes Parkhaus) is more expensive than street parking and often has extremely narrow spaces and tight corners; drive carefully. As you enter a big city, you might see signs directing you to various garages, including how many available (frei) spaces are in each one (for example, 129 frei).
| accident |
Unfall oon-fahl |
| fender-bender |
Blechschaden blehkh-shah-dehn |
| breakdown |
Panne pah-neh |
| repair shop |
Garage gah-rah-zheh |
| strange noise |
seltsames Geräusch zehlt-zah-mehs geh-roysh |
| electrical problem |
Problem mit der Elektrik proh-blaym mit dehr eh-lehk-trik |
| warning light |
Warnlicht varn-likht |
| smoke |
Rauch rowkh |
| My car won’t start. |
Mein Auto springt nicht an. mīn ow-toh shpringt nikht ahn |
| My car is broken. |
Mein Auto ist kaputt. mīn ow-toh ist kah-poot |
| This doesn’t work. |
Das geht nicht. dahs gayt nikht |
| Please check this. |
Können Sie das bitte nachschauen. kurn-ehn zee dahs bit-teh nahkh-show-ehn (“show” rhymes with “cow”) |
| oil |
Öl url |
| (flat) tire |
Reifen(panne) rī-fehn(-pah-neh) |
| air in the tires |
Luftdruck in den Reifen looft-drook in dayn rī-fehn |
| radiator |
Kühler kew-lehr |
| (dead) battery |
(leere) Batterie (lehr-eh) bah-teh-ree |
| sparkplug |
Zündkerze tsewnt-kehrt-seh |
| fuse |
Sicherung zikh-eh-roong |
| headlights |
Scheinwerfer shīn-vehr-fehr |
| taillights |
Rücklichter rewk-likht-ehr |
| turn signal |
Blinker blink-ehr |
| brakes |
Bremsen brehm-zehn |
| window |
Fenster fehn-stehr |
| windshield |
Windschutzscheibe vind-shoots-shī-beh |
| windshield wipers |
Scheibenwischer shī-behn-vish-ehr |
| engine |
Motor moh-tor |
| fan belt |
Keilriemen kīl-ree-mehn |
| starter |
Anlasser ahn-lah-sehr |
| transmission / transmission fluid |
Getriebe / Getriebeöl geh-tree-beh / geh-tree-beh-url |
| key |
Schlüssel shlew-sehl |
| alarm |
Alarm ah-larm |
| It’s overheating. |
Es ist überhitzt. ehs ist ew-behr-hitst |
| It’s a lemon (“useless box”). |
Es ist eine Schrottkiste. ehs ist ī-neh shroht-kis-teh |
| I need a... |
Ich brauche einen... ikh browkh-eh ī-nehn |
| ...tow truck. |
...Abschleppwagen. ahp-shlehp-vah-gehn |
| ...mechanic. |
...Mechaniker. meh-khah-nee-kehr |
| ...stiff drink. |
...Schnaps. shnahps |
For help with repair, see “Repairs” SEE HERE of the Services chapter.
In any country, the flashing lights of a patrol car are a sure sign that someone’s in trouble. If it’s you, try this handy phrase: Entschuldigung, ich bin Tourist (Sorry, I’m a tourist). Or, for the adventurous: Wenn es Ihnen nicht gefällt, wie ich Auto fahre, gehen Sie doch vom Gehweg runter (If you don’t like how I drive, stay off the sidewalk). If you’re in serious need of aid, turn to the Help! chapter SEE HERE.
| police |
Polizei poh-leet-sī |
| police officer |
Polizist / Polizeibeamter poh-leet-sist / poh-leet-sī-beh-ahm-tehr |
| driver’s license |
Führerschein few-rehr-shīn |
| international driving permit |
internationaler Führerschein in-tehr-naht-see-oh-nah-lehr few-rehr-shīn |
| What is the problem? |
Was ist los? vas ist lohs |
| restricted zone |
eingeschränkte Haltezone īn-geh-shrehnk-teh hahl-teht-soh-neh |
| pedestrian-only zone |
Füssgängerzone fews-gehng-ehrt-soh-neh |
| speeding |
Rasen rah-zehn |
| I didn’t know the speed limit. |
Ich kannte das Tempolimit nicht. ikh kahn-teh dahs “tempo limit” nikht |
| parking ticket |
Strafzettel shtrahf-tseh-tehl |
| I didn’t know where to park. |
Ich wusste nicht wo ich parken sollte. ikh voo-steh nikht voh ikh par-kehn zohl-teh |
| I am very sorry. |
Es tut mir sehr Leid. es toot meer zehr līt |
| Can I buy your hat? |
Kann ich Ihren Hut kaufen? kahn ikh ee-rehn hoot kowf-ehn |
Route-Finding Phrases
Directions
Germanic Sights and Signs
Lost Your Way
Reading Road Signs
Whether you’re driving, walking, or biking, these phrases will help you get around.
| I’m going / We’re going to ____. (on foot) |
Ich gehe / Wir gehen nach ____. ikh gay-eh / veer gay-ehn nahkh ____ |
| I’m going / We’re going to ____. (on wheels) |
Ich fahre / Wir fahren nach ____. ikh far-eh / veer far-ehn nahkh ____ |
| Do you have...? |
Haben Sie...? hah-behn zee |
| ...a city map |
...einen Stadtplan ī-nehn shtaht-plahn |
| ...a road map |
...eine Strassenkarte ī-neh shtrah-sehn-kar-teh |
| How many minutes / hours...? |
Wie viele Minuten / Stunden...? vee fee-leh mee-noo-tehn / shtoon-dehn |
| ...on foot |
...zu Fuss tsoo foos |
| ...by bicycle |
...mit dem Rad mit daym raht |
| ...by car |
...mit dem Auto mit daym ow-toh |
| How many kilometers to ____? |
Wie viele Kilometer sind es nach ____? vee fee-leh kee-loh-may-tehr zint ehs nahkh ____ |
| What’s the... route to Berlin? |
Was ist der... Weg nach Berlin? vahs ist dehr... vayg nahkh behr-leen |
| ...most scenic |
...schönste shurn-steh |
| ...fastest |
...schnellste shnehl-steh |
| ...easiest |
...einfachste īn-fahkh-steh |
| ...most interesting |
...interessanteste in-teh-reh-sahn-tehs-teh |
| Point it out? |
Zeigen Sie es mir? tsī-gehn zee ehs meer |
| Where is this address? |
Wo ist diese Adresse? voh ist dee-zeh ah-dreh-seh |
You may notice that jaywalking is rare in German-speaking lands—even when there’s no traffic. In fact, German has no simple word for jaywalking. Instead, they’d describe it as bei Rot über die Ampel gehen (crossing on a red light).
Bigger cities are more likely to have signs pointing you to the Zentrum (center). In smaller towns, following signs to Stadtmitte will land you in the heart of things. On a map, Standort means “You are here.”
| downtown |
Zentrum / Stadtzentrum / Stadtmitte tsehn-troom / shtaht-tsehn-troom / shtaht-mit-teh |
| straight ahead |
geradeaus geh-rah-deh-ows |
| left / right |
links / rechts links / rehkhts |
| first |
erste ehr-steh |
| next |
nächste nehkh-steh |
| intersection |
Kreuzung kroy-tsoong |
| corner |
Ecke ehk-eh |
| block |
Häuserblock hoy-zehr-blohk |
| roundabout |
Kreisel krī-zehl |
| stoplight |
Ampel ahm-pehl |
| (main) square |
(Markt)platz (markt-)plahts |
| street |
Strasse shtrah-seh |
| boulevard |
Allee ah-lay |
| curve |
Kurve koor-veh |
| bridge |
Brücke brew-keh |
| tunnel |
Tunnel too-nehl |
| road |
Strasse shtrah-seh |
| ring road |
Ringstrasse ring-shtrah-seh |
| highway |
Landstrasse lahnd-shtrah-seh |
| national highway |
Fernstrasse fehrn-shtrah-seh |
| expressway |
Autobahn ow-toh-bahn |
| north |
Nord nord |
| south |
Süd zewd |
| east |
Ost ohst |
| west |
West vehst |
| shortcut |
Abkürzung ahp-kewrt-soong |
| traffic jam |
Stau shtow |
The shortest distance between any two points in Germany is the Autobahn. The right to drive without a speed limit is as close to the average German’s heart as the right to bear arms is to many Americans. To survive, never cruise in the passing lane.
While all roads seem to lead to the little town of Ausfahrt, that is the German word for exit. Missing a turnoff can cost you lots of time and miles—be alert for Autobahn Kreuz (interchange) signs.
| I’m lost. (on foot) |
Ich habe mich verlaufen. ikh hah-beh mikh fehr-lowf-ehn |
| We’re lost. (on foot) |
Wir haben uns verlaufen. veer hah-behn oons fehr-lowf-ehn |
| I’m lost. (by car) |
Ich habe mich verfahren. ikh hah-beh mikh fehr-far-ehn |
| We’re lost. (by car) |
Wir haben uns verfahren. veer hah-behn oons fehr-far-ehn |
| Excuse me, can you help? |
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen? ehnt-shool-dig-oong kurn-ehn zee meer hehl-fehn |
| Where am I? |
Wo bin ich? voh bin ikh |
| Where is ____? |
Wo ist ____? voh ist ____ |
| How do I get to ____? |
Wie komme ich nach ____? vee koh-meh ikh nahkh ____ |
| Can you show me the way? |
Können Sie mir den Weg weisen? kurn-ehn zee meer dayn vayg vī-zehn |
| Alle Richtungen |
Out of town (“all destinations”) |
| Ausfahrt |
Exit |
| Autobahnkreuz |
Freeway interchange |
| Autohof |
Truck stop |
| Baustelle |
Construction |
| Dreieck (“three-corner”) |
Fork |
| Einbahnstrasse |
One-way street |
| Einfahrt |
Entrance |
| Fussgänger (zone) |
Pedestrian (zone) |
| Gebühr |
Toll |
| Kein Eingang / Keine Einfahrt |
No entry |
| Kein Durchgang |
Not a through street |
| Langsam |
Slow down |
| Nächste Ausfart |
Next exit |
| Parken verboten |
No parking |
| Rastplatz / Rasthof |
Rest area |
| Stadtmitte |
Center of town |
| Strassenarbeiten |
Road work ahead |
| Umleitung |
Detour |
| Vorfahrt beachten |
Yield |
| Vorsicht |
Caution |
| Zentrum |
City center |
