die
Autobahn
🛣️ What exactly is an Autobahn?
The German word die Autobahn (feminine, article: die) refers to a multi-lane highway built for high-speed motor vehicle traffic, without level crossings. It's the German equivalent of a motorway (UK) or interstate highway (US).
A characteristic feature of German Autobahnen (plural) is often the presence of sections without a general speed limit (kein Tempolimit), although many stretches now have restrictions. They primarily serve long-distance traffic (Fernverkehr) and connect major cities and regions.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Autobahn
The noun "Autobahn" is feminine. The definite article is always die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Autobahn |
| Genitive | der | Autobahn |
| Dative | der | Autobahn |
| Accusative | die | Autobahn |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Autobahnen |
| Genitive | der | Autobahnen |
| Dative | den | Autobahnen |
| Accusative | die | Autobahnen |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Autobahn war heute Morgen sehr voll. (The Autobahn was very crowded this morning.)
- Genitive: Der Zustand der Autobahn ist teilweise schlecht. (The condition of the Autobahn is partly bad.)
- Dative: Wir fahren auf der Autobahn nach Süden. (We are driving south on the Autobahn.)
- Accusative: Viele Leute nutzen die Autobahn für den Weg zur Arbeit. (Many people use the Autobahn to commute to work.)
- Plural: In Deutschland gibt es viele Autobahnen. (There are many Autobahnen in Germany.)
🚗 When to use Autobahn?
The term Autobahn is used specifically for the German (and Austrian/Swiss) highway network. It's internationally known, often associated with high speeds or the lack of a general speed limit on some sections.
Typical collocations:
- auf die Autobahn fahren / von der Autobahn abfahren (to get on / get off the Autobahn)
- die Autobahn benutzen / nehmen (to use / take the Autobahn)
- Stau auf der Autobahn (traffic jam on the Autobahn)
- Autobahnraststätte (motorway service area) / Autobahnkreuz (motorway junction/interchange) / Autobahnauffahrt (motorway entrance ramp) / Autobahnausfahrt (motorway exit ramp)
- Bundesautobahn (official designation, often with a number, e.g., A9)
Compared to Landstraße (country road, fewer lanes, often passes through towns, lower speed limits) or Bundesstraße (important federal road, but not up to Autobahn standards), the Autobahn denotes the highest category of road for motor vehicle traffic.
⚠️ Be aware: Although many foreigners believe there's no speed limit at all, many sections of the German Autobahn do have speed restrictions (Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkungen).
🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic (die)
Think: Die Bahn (the track/railway) is feminine. An Autobahn is just a 'Bahn' for 'Autos'. Or remember that many German nouns ending in '-ahn' are feminine.
Meaning Mnemonic
Break it down: Auto (car) + Bahn (track, lane, path) = A track specifically for cars. Imagine an endless 'Bahn' made just for fast 'Autos'.
🔄 Similar and Contrasting Terms
Synonyms
- Bundesautobahn: The official term.
- Fernstraße: A more general term for long-distance roads (can include Bundesstraßen).
- Schnellstraße: 'Fast road', similar, often grade-separated, but not always built to full Autobahn standards.
- Colloquially: Piste (rare, more humorous for fast driving, like 'track')
Antonyms
- Landstraße: Country road, usually one lane each way outside towns.
- Bundesstraße: Federal road, important but below Autobahn standard.
- Stadtstraße / Innerortsstraße: City/town street.
- Feldweg / Waldweg: Dirt track / forest path.
Watch out! Potential Confusion
The word Schnellstraße can sometimes refer to an Autobahn-like road, but also an upgraded Bundesstraße. The term is less specific than Autobahn.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Ameisen nie die Autobahn?
(Why do ants never take the Autobahn?)
Weil sie Angst vor den vielen Ausfahrten haben!
(Because they are afraid of all the exits! - It's a pun, 'Ausfahrt' means exit, but sounds a bit like 'aus-Fahrt' = 'out-journey' or could vaguely imply 'driving out/away')
📜 Poem about the Autobahn
Graues Band durch weites Land,
geführt von sicherer Hand.
Die Autobahn, schnell und breit,
verkürzt die lange Reisezeit.
Motoren summen, Lichter flieh'n,
Kilometer rasch dahinzieh'n.
Von Nord nach Süd, von West nach Ost,
gibt sie uns Fahrt, gibt sie uns Trost.
(Grey ribbon through the wide land,
guided by a steady hand.
The Autobahn, fast and wide,
shortens the long travel time.
Engines hum, lights flee by,
Kilometres quickly fly.
From North to South, from West to East,
it gives us drive, it gives us peace/comfort.)
❓ Fun Riddle
Ich habe viele Spuren, aber keine Füße.
Ich habe Kreuze, aber keine Kirche.
Ich habe Ausfahrten, aber keine Türen.
Manchmal darf man auf mir rasen, ohne Buße.
Was bin ich?
(I have many lanes (Spuren), but no feet.
I have crosses (Kreuze - meaning junctions/interchanges), but no church.
I have exits (Ausfahrten), but no doors.
Sometimes you can speed (rasen) on me without penalty (Buße).
What am I?) ... Die Autobahn
💡 Other Information about die Autobahn
Word Composition
The word "Autobahn" is a compound noun, composed of:
It was formed by analogy with Eisenbahn (railway: Eisen = iron, Bahn = track).
Cultural Notes
- The German Autobahn is internationally famous, often seen as a symbol of German engineering and (partial) freedom due to the lack of general speed limits on some sections.
- The band Kraftwerk dedicated a famous album and song titled "Autobahn" to it in 1974.
- The world's first public motorway (though under a different name) opened in Italy in 1924, while Germany's first Autobahn (Cologne-Bonn) opened in 1932.
Summary: is it der, die or das Autobahn?
The word "Autobahn" is feminine. The correct article is always die Autobahn.