die
Bundesstraße
🛣️ What Exactly is a Bundesstraße?
The Bundesstraße (often abbreviated as B followed by a number, e.g., B1) is an interregional or regional federal highway in Germany and Austria. The ownership and maintenance responsibility lie with the federal government (Bund), unlike state roads (Landesstraßen), district roads (Kreisstraßen), or municipal roads (Gemeindestraßen).
It serves long-distance traffic and connects important cities and regions, but generally represents a lower standard of development than an Autobahn (often not grade-separated, sometimes only two lanes).
It is a feminine noun, so the article is always die: die Bundesstraße.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📐 Grammar in Detail: Die Bundesstraße
The noun „Bundesstraße“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Bundesstraße |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Bundesstraße |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Bundesstraße |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Bundesstraße |
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Bundesstraßen |
| Genitive | der Bundesstraßen |
| Dative | den Bundesstraßen |
| Accusative | die Bundesstraßen |
Example Sentences
- Wir fahren auf der Bundesstraße 1 Richtung Berlin.
(We are driving on the Bundesstraße 1 towards Berlin.) - Die neue Umgehung ist als Bundesstraße klassifiziert.
(The new bypass is classified as a Bundesstraße.) - Wegen Bauarbeiten gibt es auf vielen Bundesstraßen Staus.
(Due to construction work, there are traffic jams on many Bundesstraßen.) - Der Zustand der Bundesstraße lässt zu wünschen übrig.
(The condition of the Bundesstraße leaves much to be desired.)
🚦 When and How is 'Bundesstraße' Used?
The term Bundesstraße is used specifically within the German and Austrian road systems.
- Distinction from Autobahn: Bundesstraßen are hierarchically below Autobahnen (A). They often have speed limits (usually 100 km/h outside towns, unless otherwise signed), pass through towns (Ortsdurchfahrten), and are not always grade-separated. Autobahnen are designed for fast, long-distance travel.
- Distinction from Landstraße/Staatsstraße: Landstraßen (L) or Staatsstraßen (St) are ranked below Bundesstraßen and are the responsibility of the federal states (Bundesländer). They primarily serve regional traffic.
- Signage: Bundesstraßen are marked with yellow signs featuring a black number preceded by the letter 'B' (e.g., B 96).
- Context: People talk about Bundesstraßen in the context of route planning, traffic reports, road construction, and administration.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Bundesstraße (federal road) with Bundesstaat (federal state, e.g., Bavaria) or Bundestag (the German federal parliament).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic (die): Think of die Straße (the street). Since 'Bundesstraße' ends in '-straße' and die Straße is feminine, die Bundesstraße is also feminine. Most German nouns ending in -e are feminine, and Straße is a classic example.
Meaning Mnemonic: The Bund (as in the Federal Republic) builds Straßen (roads) for everyone – these are the Bundesstraßen. They belong to the entire federation (Bund).
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Fernstraße: (Long-distance road) A more general term for a road serving interregional traffic. A Bundesstraße is a type of Fernstraße.
- Nationalstraße: (National road) Sometimes used synonymously, especially in international contexts or historically, but 'Bundesstraße' is the official term in Germany.
- Überlandstraße: (Overland road) Often simply refers to a road outside built-up areas, but can also mean a Bundesstraße.
Antonyms (Opposites within the System)
- Autobahn (A): Higher-ranking highway, usually grade-separated and often without a general speed limit (recommended speed 130 km/h).
- Landesstraße (L) / Staatsstraße (St): Lower-ranking road under state jurisdiction.
- Kreisstraße (K): Lower-ranking road under district jurisdiction.
- Gemeindestraße: Road under municipal jurisdiction (e.g., local streets).
- Privatstraße: Private road.
Similar, but Different Terms
- Bundesland: A federal state of Germany (e.g., Hesse).
- Bundestag: The German federal parliament in Berlin.
- Bundeswehr: The German armed forces.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat die Bundesstraße schlechte Laune?
Weil ständig jemand auf ihr herumfährt! 😉
(Why is the Bundesstraße in a bad mood? Because people are always driving all over it! ["Herumfahren auf" can also mean to boss someone around or criticize them])
📜 Poem about the Bundesstraße
Die Bundesstraße B-X
Von Nord nach Süd, von West nach Ost,
zieht sich die Straße, selten Frost.
Mal breit, mal schmal, durch Dorf und Stadt,
man fährt und fährt, wird niemals matt.
Sie heißt nicht A, sie ist kein Kreis,
auf gelbem Schild steht ihr Beweis.
Die Bundesstraße, wohlbekannt,
verbindet Leute, Stadt und Land.
(The Bundesstraße B-X)
(From North to South, from West to East,
the road extends, rarely frost.
Sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, through village and town,
one drives and drives, never growing weary.)
(It's not called A, it's not a K [Kreisstraße],
on a yellow sign stands its proof.
The Bundesstraße, well-known,
connects people, city and country.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich trage ein 'B' und eine Zahl,
bin gelb markiert, das ist meine Wahl.
Ich bin kein kleiner Weg im Wald,
und auch keine Autobahn, die schnell durchknallt.
Der Bund bezahlt für meinen Stand.
Wer bin ich, bekannt im ganzen Land?
(I wear a 'B' and a number,
I'm marked in yellow, that's my choice.
I'm not a small path in the woods,
Nor an Autobahn for speeding through.
The federal government pays for my upkeep.
Who am I, known throughout the land?)
Solution: Die Bundesstraße (The Federal Highway)
💡 More Interesting Facts
- Word Composition: The word is composed of Bund (referring to the Federal Republic) and Straße (street/road). Thus, it denotes a road under federal jurisdiction.
- Numbering System: The numbers of the Bundesstraßen (B 1 to B ...) often follow a historical or geographical logic. Low numbers (B 1 to B 10) often run east-west, while higher numbers tend to run north-south or are more regional.
- European Significance: Many Bundesstraßen are part of the European route network (marked with an 'E' on a green background).
- Tolls (Maut): For trucks over 7.5 tons, tolls are charged on most Bundesstraßen.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bundesstraße?
The word Bundesstraße is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Bundesstraße (nominative singular), der Bundesstraße (genitive/dative singular), die Bundesstraßen (nominative/accusative plural).