German · Travel & Getting Around
"Station" in German: Bahnhof
der Bahnhof
Note: metro: die Station
Station in German is der Bahnhof for train stations. Say am Bahnhof. Metro stops are often die Station or die Haltestelle.
Meeting point
Wir treffen uns am Bahnhof um drei.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Bahnhof
Say it
BAHN-hohf
/ˈbaːnhoːf/
BAHN-hohf. Bahn like English bond with a longer ah. Hof like hofe without the e.
"Station" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Bahnhof | the train station Main word for rail stations. | Main word for rail stations. |
| am Bahnhof | at the station Location phrase with am. | Location phrase with am. |
| die Station | the stop / station Often metro or medical. | Often metro or medical. |
| der Hauptbahnhof | the main station Big-city central station; short Hbf. | Big-city central station; short Hbf. |
How to use Bahnhof in real life
- 1Meeting point
Wir treffen uns am Bahnhof um drei.
We'll meet at the station at three.
Am Bahnhof is the set location phrase.
- 2Directions
Der Bahnhof ist fußläufig fünf Minuten entfernt.
The station is a five-minute walk away.
Der Bahnhof as subject.
- 3Ticket desk
Fährt dieser Zug vom Bahnhof oder vom Flughafen?
Does this train leave from the station or the airport?
Vom Bahnhof = from the station.
Mistakes English speakers make with Bahnhof
Incorrect: Die Bahnhof ist groß.
Correct: Der Bahnhof ist groß.
Bahnhof is masculine: der Bahnhof.
Incorrect: Ich warte in Bahnhof.
Correct: Ich warte am Bahnhof. / im Bahnhof.
Use am Bahnhof for at the station; im Bahnhof if you mean inside the building.
Good to know
Big cities label the central station Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). Platforms are Gleise, announced clearly on boards. For U-Bahn and tram stops, Haltestelle or Station is more natural than Bahnhof.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arranging a weekend arrival
ChatPal
Kommst du zum Bahnhof oder zum Busbahnhof?
Are you coming to the train station or the bus station?
You
Zum Bahnhof. Mein Zug kommt um 18:10.
To the train station. My train arrives at 18:10.
ChatPal
Super, ich hole dich am Bahnhof ab.
Great, I'll pick you up at the station.
You
Danke! Ich warte vor dem Bahnhof am Taxiplatz.
Thanks! I'll wait in front of the station at the taxi stand.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Station" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Station" in German
Is Bahnhof only for trains?
Mostly yes. Bus stations are often Busbahnhof; metro stops use Station or Haltestelle.
What does Hbf mean?
Hauptbahnhof—the main station.
How do you say platform?
Das Gleis. Check Gleis 5 on the board.
Am Bahnhof or im Bahnhof?
Am Bahnhof for at/by the station. Im Bahnhof for inside.
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
