German word

reisen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁaɪ̯zn̩/

Meaning

  • verbtravel

Example

Er reist oft ins Ausland.

He often travels abroad.

Illustration for reisen (travel)

More examples

Am Wochenende reist er mit dem Zug nach Berlin.

At the weekend, he travels by train to Berlin.

Core concept

A person spends time away from home while moving between places, often across a considerable distance.

Common phrases

  • reist ins Ausland

    travel abroad

  • reist mit dem Zug

    travel by train

  • mit Freunden reisen

    travel with friends

Similar words

fahren: To travel by car, train, or bus.
fliegen: To travel by plane.
verreisen: To leave home for a trip lasting several days or longer.

Definition in German

sich für eine gewisse Zeit von einem Ort zum anderen begeben und dabei oft weite Strecken zurücklegen

Word origin

Reisen is an inherited Germanic verb from Old High German rīsan, whose older meanings included rising and setting off.

Usage tips

  • German uses reisen for a journey as a whole, while fahren and fliegen more specifically describe traveling by car, train, or plane.

Opposites

Related words

  • die Reisejourneynoun
  • der Reisendetravelernoun
  • das Reisebürotravel agencynoun

Word lists with this word