der  Bahnhof

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbaːnhoːf/

🚉 What does "der Bahnhof" mean?

The German word Bahnhof (masculine, article: der) refers to a train station. It's a place with facilities for railway traffic where trains stop regularly to allow passengers to board, alight, or change trains, as well as for handling goods. It serves as a central hub in public passenger and freight transport.

The word is composed of Bahn (in the sense of railway or track) and Hof (meaning yard or courtyard).

Good news! ✨ There's only one article for Bahnhof: der. No tricky gender changes here!

📊 Grammar in Detail: Der Bahnhof

The noun "Bahnhof" is masculine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:

Example Sentences

1. Der alte Bahnhof wird bald renoviert. (Nominative Singular: The old train station will be renovated soon.)
2. Wir treffen uns morgen früh am Bahnhof. (Dative Singular - an dem Bahnhof: We'll meet at the train station early tomorrow morning.)
3. Ich sehe den Bahnhof schon von Weitem. (Accusative Singular: I can already see the train station from afar.)
4. Die Architektur des neuen Bahnhofs ist beeindruckend. (Genitive Singular: The architecture of the new train station is impressive.)
5. In dieser Stadt gibt es mehrere kleine Bahnhöfe. (Nominative Plural: There are several small train stations in this city.)
6. Die Züge fahren von verschiedenen Bahnhöfen ab. (Dative Plural: The trains depart from different train stations.)

🗣️ Everyday Usage

"Der Bahnhof" is commonly used when talking about train travel, meeting points, or a city's infrastructure.

• Travel Planning: "Wir müssen zum Hauptbahnhof, um unseren Zug zu erwischen." (We need to go to the main station to catch our train.)
• Meeting Point: "Ich warte auf dich am Bahnhof unter der großen Uhr." (I'll wait for you at the station under the big clock.)
• Location Description: "Das Hotel liegt direkt gegenüber vom Bahnhof." (The hotel is right across from the station.)
• Distinction: Germans often differentiate between the Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), the main station of a city, and smaller Bahnhöfe or Haltepunkte (stops, often with less infrastructure).
• Idiomatic Use: You might hear the phrase "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof", which means "It's all Greek to me" or "I don't understand anything at all". This idiom isn't directly related to the place itself. 😉

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Remembering the Article "der":

Imagine a big, strong (masculine!) train conductor standing in the station's yard (Hof). It's HIS yard -> DER Bahnhof. Or think: DER big building where DER train arrives.

Remembering the Meaning "Train Station":

Break it down: Bahn sounds like 'bahn' as in Autobahn, but think railway track or train path. Hof means 'yard' or 'courtyard'. So, a 'yard for the train tracks' = train station. 🚂 + 🏡 = 🚉

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Betriebsbahnhof: Operational station, used for railway operations, usually without passenger service.
• Güterbahnhof: Freight station, specifically for handling goods.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum nehmen Skelette keinen Zug?
Weil sie keine Körper haben, um zum Bahnhof zu gehen!

English: Why don't skeletons take the train?
Because they have no body to go to the station with! 🦴➡️🚉

📜 Poem about the Bahnhof

Der Bahnhof

Ein Ort aus Stein, aus Glas und Stahl,
der Bahnhof kennt Geschwindigkeiten, keine Qual.
Züge kommen, Züge gehen,
Menschen eilen, bleiben stehen.
Abschiedsschmerz und Wiedersehen,
kann man hier tagtäglich sehen.
Ein Knotenpunkt, ein lauter Ort,
trägt Reisende von hier nach dort.

---

The Train Station

A place of stone, of glass and steel,
the station knows speed, no ordeal.
Trains arrive, and trains depart,
People hurry, stand apart.
Pain of parting, joyful meet,
seen here daily on the street (of tracks).
A central hub, a noisy place,
Carries travelers through time and space.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich habe Gleise, aber fahre nie selbst.
Ich habe Hallen, aber wohne nicht drin.
Züge halten bei mir an, Menschen steigen ein und aus.
Was bin ich?

English:
I have tracks, but I never travel myself.
I have halls, but I don't live inside.
Trains stop at my place, people get on and off.
What am I?

Solution: Der Bahnhof (The train station)

🤓 Other Information

• Word Composition: The word "Bahnhof" is a compound noun formed from die Bahn (here: railway) and der Hof (yard, court). Interestingly, the gender of a compound noun in German is determined by the last word (the base word). Since "Hof" is masculine (der), "Bahnhof" is also masculine (der Bahnhof).
• Types of Stations: There are various types, e.g., Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) (main station), Personenbahnhof (passenger station), Güterbahnhof (freight station), Rangierbahnhof (marshalling yard/shunting yard), U-Bahnhof (subway/underground station, although technically often called "Station").
• Cultural Significance: Train stations are often impressive architectural landmarks and important social meeting points in cities. Many have a long history.