die  Bahncard

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbaːnkɑʁt/

🚆 What exactly is a Bahncard?

Die Bahncard is a discount card offered by Deutsche Bahn AG (DB), the German national railway company. It allows travellers to purchase train tickets for journeys within Germany (and sometimes internationally) at reduced prices.

There are several main types:

• Bahncard 25: Grants a 25% discount on the Flexpreis (standard flexible fare) and Sparpreise (saver fares) for long-distance trains, as well as on local transport offers integrated with DB.
• Bahncard 50: Grants a 50% discount on the Flexpreis and a 25% discount on Sparpreise for long-distance trains.
• Bahncard 100: Essentially acts as an annual season ticket for almost all DB trains within Germany, like a flat rate for train travel.

It is usually valid for one year and often requires active cancellation, as many versions automatically renew (Attention ⚠️ with subscription models!). There are also Probe Bahncards (trial Bahncards) with shorter validity periods.

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: die Bahncard

The word Bahncard is a feminine noun. Therefore, the correct definite article is always die.

It's a compound noun formed from die Bahn (railway/train) and die Card (borrowed from English 'card', treated as feminine like its German equivalent die Karte). The gender is determined by the last part of the compound word, Card (Karte), which is feminine.

Declension (Singular)

Declension (Plural)

Although the English plural 'Bahncards' is commonly used colloquially, the grammatically standard German plural is die Bahncards. It follows the regular feminine plural declension pattern.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Ich habe mir die neue Bahncard 50 gekauft. (I bought the new Bahncard 50.)
2. Der Preis der Bahncard variiert je nach Typ. (The price of the Bahncard varies depending on the type.)
3. Mit der Bahncard sparst du bei jeder Fahrt. (With the Bahncard, you save on every journey.)
4. Vergiss nicht, die Bahncard im Zug vorzuzeigen! (Don't forget to show the Bahncard on the train!)

🌐 How is the Bahncard used?

Die Bahncard is primarily used in the context of train travel with Deutsche Bahn.

• When buying tickets: You indicate that you possess a Bahncard to receive the discount (whether online, at a ticket machine, or in a travel centre - Reisezentrum).
• During the journey: During the ticket inspection (Fahrkartenkontrolle), you must present die Bahncard along with your (discounted) ticket and often a photo ID.
• Digital vs. Plastic: Die Bahncard is available as a traditional plastic card or digitally within the DB Navigator app.

Context: It's a key product for frequent travellers (Vielfahrer) and occasional travellers (Gelegenheitsreisende) looking to save costs. It symbolises more affordable rail travel in Germany.

Clarification: It is not a travel ticket itself (except for the Bahncard 100), but rather an entitlement card to purchase discounted tickets.

🧠 Memory Aids for Bahncard

Article Mnemonic: Think of the German word for 'card', which is "die Karte". Since Bahncard ends similarly and refers to a type of card, it also takes "die". Remember: die Karte -> die Bahncard.

Meaning Mnemonic: The Bahncard is your special card for riding the Bahn (train) more cheaply. It's the discount Card for the Bahn.

↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Note: Do not confuse die Bahncard with a Streckenzeitkarte (route season ticket) or a Verbundpass (regional transport pass), which usually apply only to specific routes or regions.

😄 A Little Joke

Der Schaffner fragt den Fahrgast: "Ihre Fahrkarte bitte!"
Der Fahrgast kramt und kramt. Sagt der Schaffner: "Keine Sorge, ich komme gleich wieder."
Als er zurückkommt, kramt der Fahrgast immer noch. "Na, haben Sie sie gefunden?"
"Ja, ja", sagt der Fahrgast, "gleich... aber wer bin ich eigentlich und wo wollte ich hin? Ach ja, hier ist die Bahncard!"

English Translation:

The conductor asks the passenger: "Your ticket, please!"
The passenger rummages and rummages. The conductor says: "No worries, I'll be right back."
When he returns, the passenger is still rummaging. "Well, did you find it?"
"Yes, yes," says the passenger, "almost... but who am I actually and where was I going? Oh right, here's the Bahncard!"

📜 Poem about the Bahncard

Die Bahncard in der Tasche klein,
lässt dich günstiger reisen, fein.
Ob 25, 50 oder 100 pur,
mit ihr fährst du auf Rabatt-Spur.
Durch Deutschland, schnell und sehr bequem,
das Reisen wird zum schönen System.

English Translation:

The Bahncard, small within the hand,
Makes travel cheaper through the land.
Be it 25, 50, or 100's grace,
With it, you ride at a discounted pace.
Through Germany, fast and comfy too,
Travel becomes a pleasant system for you.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin eine Karte, doch kein Spielzeug,
Ich helf' dir sparen, welch Freudenszeug!
Bei der Bahn zeigst du mich vor,
und zahlst viel weniger als zuvor.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:

I am a card, but not for play,
I help you save along the way!
On the train, you show me there,
And pay much less than the standard fare.

What am I? (Answer: die Bahncard)

🧩 Additional Information

Word Composition: The word "Bahncard" is an anglicism or rather a compound of a German and an English word:

• Die Bahn: Short for Eisenbahn (railway).
• Card: English word for Karte.

Trivia:

• The first Bahncard was introduced in 1992 by the former Deutsche Bundesbahn (German Federal Railway).
• It was part of a major tariff reform aimed at making train travel more attractive.
• Today, millions of people in Germany use a Bahncard.