German · Travel & Getting Around
"Subway (metro)" in German: U-Bahn
die U-Bahn
Subway in German is die U-Bahn, short for Untergrundbahn. Say Mit der U-Bahn or Die U-Bahn kommt. S-Bahn is a different, usually above-ground train.
Commuting
Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn zur Arbeit.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce U-Bahn
Say it
OO-bahn
/ˈuːbaːn/
OO-bahn. U like food. Stress on Bahn.
"Subway (metro)" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die U-Bahn | subway / metro Core word. | Core word. |
| mit der U-Bahn | by subway Travel phrase. | Travel phrase. |
| U-Bahn-Station | subway station Stops. | Stops. |
| U-Bahn-Linie | subway line Line numbers. | Line numbers. |
How to use U-Bahn in real life
- 1Commuting
Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn zur Arbeit.
I take the subway to work.
Mit der U-Bahn.
- 2Late night
Wann fährt die letzte U-Bahn?
When does the last subway run?
Die … U-Bahn.
- 3Tourist tip
Nimm die U-Bahn, der Bus steckt im Stau.
Take the subway; the bus is stuck in traffic.
Die U-Bahn as object idea.
Mistakes English speakers make with U-Bahn
Incorrect: der U-Bahn
Correct: die U-Bahn
U-Bahn is feminine.
Incorrect: U Bahn ohne Bindestrich (often)
Correct: U-Bahn
Standard spelling keeps the hyphen.
Good to know
In big German cities the U-Bahn is the fast underground network; the S-Bahn often goes farther into the suburbs. Tickets usually cover both inside one fare zone.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking how to cross town
ChatPal
Taxi oder öffentlich?
Taxi or public transit?
You
U-Bahn. Die ist schneller.
Subway. It's faster.
ChatPal
Welche U-Bahn-Linie brauchen wir?
Which subway line do we need?
You
Die U3. Die U-Bahn hält direkt am Park.
The U3. The subway stops right at the park.
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FAQ
Common questions about "Subway (metro)" in German
How do you say subway?
Die U-Bahn.
By subway?
Mit der U-Bahn.
U-Bahn vs S-Bahn?
U-Bahn is metro/subway; S-Bahn is often regional city rail.
Station?
U-Bahn-Station or U-Bahnhof.
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
