German · Travel & Getting Around

"Highway" in German: Autobahn

die Autobahn

Say it: OW-toh-bahnfeminine · die Autobahnnoun/ˈaʊ̯toˌbaːn/

Highway in German is die Autobahn. Say Wir fahren auf der Autobahn. Exit signs say Ausfahrt; speed advice varies by stretch.

Trip

Wir nehmen die Autobahn bis Hamburg.
We'll take the highway to Hamburg.
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How to pronounce Autobahn

Say it

OW-toh-bahn

/ˈaʊ̯toˌbaːn/

OW-toh-bahn. Au like ow. Stress on Auto.

"Highway" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Autobahnthe highway / motorway

Main noun.

auf der Autobahnon the highway

Location.

die Autobahnauffahrtthe on-ramp

Entering.

die Ausfahrtthe exit

Leaving the Autobahn.

How to use Autobahn in real life

  1. 1Trip

    Wir nehmen die Autobahn bis Hamburg.

    We'll take the highway to Hamburg.

    Die Autobahn.

  2. 2Traffic

    Auf der Autobahn steht alles.

    Everything is stuck on the highway.

    Auf der Autobahn.

  3. 3Exit

    Die nächste Ausfahrt führt von der Autobahn runter.

    The next exit leads off the highway.

    Von der Autobahn.

Mistakes English speakers make with Autobahn

Incorrect: der Autobahn

Correct: die Autobahn

Autobahn is feminine: die Autobahn.

Incorrect: in der Autobahn

Correct: auf der Autobahn

Use auf, not in.

Good to know

Not every Autobahn stretch has unlimited speed; watch for Tempolimits. Raststätten are the classic pit stops.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Navigating a road trip

  1. ChatPal

    Bleiben wir auf der Autobahn oder Landstraße?

    Are we staying on the highway or the country road?

  2. You

    Autobahn. Es geht schneller.

    Highway. It's faster.

  3. ChatPal

    Okay. Tankstelle direkt an der Autobahn?

    Okay. Gas station right on the highway?

  4. You

    Ja, in zwanzig Kilometern.

    Yes, in twenty kilometers.

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"Highway" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Highway" in German

How do you say highway?

Die Autobahn.

On the highway?

Auf der Autobahn.

Exit?

Die Ausfahrt.

Gender?

Feminine: die Autobahn.

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