German word

Bahn

Pronunciation

IPA/baːn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounline

Example

Diese Bahn hat heute Verspätung.

This line is delayed today.

Illustration for Bahn (line)

More examples

Morgen nehme ich die Bahn nach München.

Tomorrow I'll take the train to Munich.

Core concept

A connected railway route understood as both infrastructure and a train service.

Common phrases

  • die Bahn nehmen

    take the train

  • in die Bahn einsteigen

    get on the train

Similar words

Zug: A set of rail vehicles traveling together to carry passengers or goods.
Linie: A named or numbered transport service operating along a defined route.
Gleis: A single track used by trains arriving at or leaving a station.
S-Bahn: An urban and suburban rail service connecting a city with nearby areas.

Definition in German

Eine festgelegte Strecke im Schienennetz, auf der Züge verkehren.

Word origin

The German noun Bahn comes from an older Germanic word for a path or road and extended its meaning to railway routes when railways appeared.

Usage tips

  • Mit der Bahn usually means by rail or by train service, while mit dem Zug more specifically identifies a particular train.

Other meanings

  • railwaynoun
  • trainnoun
  • tracknoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word