German word

Verkehr

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈkeːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • masculine nountraffic

Example

Der Verkehr in der Stadt ist sehr dicht.

Traffic in the city is very heavy.

Illustration for Verkehr (traffic)

More examples

Wegen des Verkehrs kommt es auf der Autobahn oft zu Staus.

Because of the traffic, there are often traffic jams on the motorway.

Core concept

A steady flow of people, vehicles, goods, or contacts moving back and forth between places or parties.

Common phrases

  • dichter Verkehr

    heavy traffic

  • bei starkem Verkehr

    in heavy traffic

Similar words

Stau: A crowded standstill in which vehicles or people can hardly move.
Verkehrsmittel: A form of transport used to take people or goods to a destination.
Fahrt: Movement from one place to another, especially by vehicle.
Straßenverkehr: Vehicle and pedestrian movement on roads.

Definition in German

Oberbegriff für Vorgänge des Hin- und Herbewegens sowie für die damit verbundenen Kontakte und Verbindungen.

Word origin

Verkehr is formed from the verb verkehren, whose older sense was to move or go back and forth before broadening to traffic and dealings.

Usage tips

  • Verkehr is masculine, and its plural Verkehre is uncommon and mainly refers to distinct types or systems of traffic.

Other meanings

  • interactionnoun
  • intercoursenoun
  • dealingsnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word