German word

auffahren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯fˌfaːɐ̯ən/

Meaning

  • verbdrive into

Example

Sie fuhr mit dem Wagen auf den Hof auf.

She drove into the courtyard.

Illustration for auffahren (drive into)

More examples

Der Fahrer fuhr direkt vor die Tür auf.

The driver drove directly up to the door.

Core concept

A moving vehicle or machine closes in on a point until it arrives, makes contact, or becomes active there.

Common phrases

  • auffahren vor die Tür

    drive up to the door

  • auffahren in die Einfahrt

    drive into the driveway

  • auffahren auf den Hof

    drive into the courtyard

Similar words

vorfahren: Bringing a vehicle up to a destination and stopping near it.
einfahren: Entering a property, garage, or other enclosed area by car.
heranfahren: Approaching a person, vehicle, or other target closely by car.

Definition in German

Mit einem Fahrzeug bis an eine bestimmte Stelle heranfahren und dort stehen bleiben.

Word origin

The verb joins "auf-", which marks movement toward or onto a point, with "fahren", and its related senses develop from reaching that point.

Usage tips

  • For the rear-ending sense, the other road user commonly appears in the dative, as in "Er fuhr dem Wagen auf".

Other meanings

  • start upverb
  • rear-endverb

Opposites

  • abfahrendepartverb
  • wegfahrendrive awayverb

Related words

  • die Auffahrtdrivewaynoun
  • das Auffahrenrear-end collisionnoun

Word lists with this word