Language/German/Vocabulary/Public-Transportation

German Vocabulary → → Public Transportation

In this lesson, you will learn how to name and use different modes of public transportation in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Public transportation is a convenient way to get around in many cities and regions, and it's important to know some basic vocabulary and phrases to use it effectively.

Types of Public Transportation

In Germany, there are several types of public transportation available, depending on the city or region:

U-Bahn

The U-Bahn (Untergrundbahn) is the subway system in many German cities, including Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. It's a fast and efficient way to travel within the city center and surrounding areas.

S-Bahn

The S-Bahn (Schnellbahn) is the suburban train system in many German cities. It connects the city center with the suburbs and neighboring cities. Many S-Bahn lines run above ground, providing scenic views of the city and countryside.

Tram

The Tram (Straßenbahn) is an above-ground train system that operates in many German cities, especially in the eastern and western regions. It's a convenient way to travel within the city center and surrounding neighborhoods.

Bus

The Bus (Bus) is a common form of public transportation in Germany. It operates in all cities and regions, connecting neighborhoods and suburban areas with the city center. Buses also provide transportation to neighboring cities and towns.

Regional Trains

The Regional Train (Regionalbahn) provides transportation between neighboring cities and towns, connecting them with the suburban train and bus networks.

Funicular

The Funicular (Zahnradbahn) is a specialized train system used in some German cities to reach hilly or mountainous areas. It uses a system of gears and rails to climb steep inclines.

Cable Car

The Cable Car (Seilbahn) is another specialized train system used in some German cities to reach mountainous areas. It operates using a system of cables and pulleys to provide transportation to high elevations.

Useful Vocabulary

Here are some common German words and phrases related to public transportation:

German	Pronunciation	English
die U-Bahn	dee OO-bahn	subway
die S-Bahn	dee ESS-bahn	suburban train
die Straßenbahn	dee SHTRAH-sen-bahn	tram
der Bus	dehr boos	bus
die Regionalbahn	dee reh-ghee-oh-NAHL-bahn	regional train
die Zahnradbahn	dee TSAN-rahd-bahn	funicular
die Seilbahn	dee zyle-bahn	cable car
die Haltestelle	dee HALL-teh-shtell-leh	bus/train stop
der Fahrplan	dehr FAHR-plahn	schedule/timetable
der Fahrschein	dehr FAH-shine	ticket

Useful Phrases

Here are some common German phrases that you might use when using public transportation:

• Entschuldigung, wo ist die Haltestelle für die U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Tram/Bus? (Excuse me, where is the stop for the subway/suburban train/tram/bus?)
• Wann fährt die U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Tram/Bus? (When does the subway/suburban train/tram/bus depart?)
• Wo kann ich einen Fahrschein kaufen? (Where can I buy a ticket?)
• Welche Linie muss ich nehmen, um zum Bahnhof/Flughafen/Stadion zu gelangen? (Which line do I need to take to get to the train station/airport/stadium?)
• Muss ich umsteigen? (Do I need to change trains?)
• Wie viel kostet ein Fahrschein für eine einfache Fahrt/eine Hin- und Rückfahrt? (How much does a one-way/round-trip ticket cost?)
• Ich möchte bitte eine Fahrkarte für die U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Tram/Bus kaufen. (I would like to buy a ticket for the subway/suburban train/tram/bus, please.)

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct German words or phrases:

1. Darf ich Sie nach der __________ zum Flughafen fragen? (May I ask you for directions to the airport?) 2. Ich möchte ein Ticket für die __________ kaufen. (I would like to buy a ticket for the bus.) 3. Wie viel kostet ein Ticket für eine __________ Fahrt? (How much does a one-way ticket cost?) 4. Muss ich __________ , um zum Bahnhof zu gelangen? (Do I need to change trains to get to the train station?) 5. Entschuldigung, __________ ich hier die Straßenbahn nach der Innenstadt? (Excuse me, does the tram to the city center stop here?)

Answers: 1. Haltestelle, 2. Bus, 3. einfache, 4. umsteigen, 5. hält

Sources

• German Transportation Vocabulary - ielanguages.com
• How To Talk About Transportation In German
• Public Transport in German - Rocket Languages

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

  ---

Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

  ---

Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

  ---

Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

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Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

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Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

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Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Related Lessons

• Jobs
• Dinner Table
• Buying Groceries
• DEUTSCH IM DETAIL 1
• Drinks
• Parts of the Body
• Resources
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Tongue twisters
• Animal