die Autobahn, -en
Meaning and Usage
"Die Autobahn" in German refers to a highway or motorway, specifically to the high-speed, multi-lane network of expressways in Germany and some other German-speaking countries.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "Autobahn" is a compound word consisting of "Auto" (car) and "Bahn" (track or path). The plural form is "Autobahnen".
Comparisons between German and English
The German word "Autobahn" directly translates to "highway" or "motorway" in English. The key difference is that "Autobahn" specifically refers to the extensive network of expressways in German-speaking countries, often known for their lack of general speed limits on certain sections.
Cultural Context
The Autobahn is a significant part of German cultural identity and is renowned worldwide for its high-speed sections, as well as for being a symbol of German engineering and efficiency.
Example Sentences
- Die Autobahn in Deutschland hat oft keinen Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen. (The highway in Germany often has no speed limits.)
- Wir fahren morgen früh über die Autobahn nach Berlin. (We're driving on the highway to Berlin tomorrow morning.)
Memory Tips
Associate "Autobahn" with "auto" and "bahn" to remember that it means a car track or highway for vehicles.
Additional Vocabulary
- Die Straße (the street)
- Die Landstraße (the country road)
- Die Schnellstraße (the expressway)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
- Gender: Feminine
- Plural: die Autobahnen
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A