German word

losfahren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈloːsˌfaːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbset off

Example

Wir fahren morgen früh los.

We are setting off early tomorrow morning.

Illustration for losfahren (set off)

More examples

Der Bus fährt in fünf Minuten los.

The bus sets off in five minutes.

Core concept

A vehicle or traveler breaking away from a standstill and moving onto a route.

Common phrases

  • losfahren um acht Uhr

    set off at eight o'clock

  • losfahren nach Berlin

    set off for Berlin

  • losfahren Richtung Süden

    set off toward the south

Similar words

wegfahren: Leave a place in a vehicle.
abfahren: Leave a station or stop at the scheduled time.
losgehen: Begin moving or begin to happen.
aufbrechen: Leave a place to begin a journey.

Definition in German

trennbares Verb; das Starten einer Fahrt oder das Wegfahren von einem Ort ausdrückend

Word origin

Losfahren combines the separable particle los, meaning away or into motion, with inherited Germanic fahren, from Old High German faran, meaning to travel.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, losfahren splits: Wir fahren morgen früh los; it stays together after a modal or in a subordinate clause.

Other meanings

  • start drivingverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word