die
Fahrspur
🛣️ What exactly is a 'Fahrspur'?
Die Fahrspur (feminine noun) refers to a demarcated longitudinal strip on a road or carriageway intended for a single line of vehicles. In English, this is commonly called a traffic lane or simply a lane. It serves to guide and organize traffic.
- Autobahnen (motorways/highways) usually have multiple Fahrspuren in each direction.
- Markings (Linien - lines) separate the Fahrspuren from each other.
- One might refer to the rechte Fahrspur (right lane), mittlere Fahrspur (middle lane), or linke Fahrspur (left lane).
⚠️ Don't confuse it with die Fahrbahn, which refers to the entire width of the road intended for vehicle traffic (i.e., all lanes in one direction plus possibly the shoulder).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ur/-ür → mostly feminine.
Caution: -eur nouns are usually masculine (e.g. der Ingenieur).
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Fahrspur
The word "Fahrspur" is feminine. The article is die.
Declension of 'die Fahrspur'
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Fahrspur | eine Fahrspur |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Fahrspur | einer Fahrspur |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | der Fahrspur | einer Fahrspur |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Fahrspur | eine Fahrspur |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Fahrspuren | - Fahrspuren |
| Genitive | der Fahrspuren | - Fahrspuren |
| Dative | den Fahrspuren | - Fahrspuren |
| Accusative | die Fahrspuren | - Fahrspuren |
Example Sentences
- Bitte wechseln Sie auf die rechte Fahrspur.
(Please change to the right lane.) - Auf dieser Autobahn gibt es drei Fahrspuren pro Richtung.
(On this motorway, there are three lanes per direction.) - Die Markierung der Fahrspur ist kaum noch zu erkennen.
(The marking of the lane is barely visible anymore.) - Auf der Fahrspur neben mir war ein LKW.
(There was a truck in the lane next to me.) - Wir mussten wegen einer Baustelle die Fahrspur verlassen.
(We had to leave the lane because of roadworks.)
🚦 How 'die Fahrspur' is Used
The term die Fahrspur is primarily used in the context of road traffic and traffic regulations.
- Typical Situations: When driving, in driving schools (Fahrschulen), in traffic reports (Verkehrsnachrichten), when describing roads or motorways.
- Context: Always refers to the part of the road intended for one line of vehicles. Common phrases involve "changing" (wechseln) the Fahrspur, "blocking" (blockieren) a Fahrspur, or the "number" (Anzahl) of Fahrspuren.
- Distinction: While "Spur" can be more general (e.g., an audio track - Tonspur, an animal track - Wildspur), "Fahrspur" specifically denotes the lane for vehicles on a road. "Fahrbahn" is the broader term for all lanes in one direction (the carriageway).
- Compounds: Often found in combinations like Autobahnfahrspur (motorway lane), Busfahrspur (bus lane), Radfahrspur (cycle lane, though Radweg is more common), Fahrspurwechsel (lane change).
🧠 Memory Aids for Fahrspur
For the article 'die': Think of 'she' driving in her lane. 'She' corresponds to 'die'. Or, remember that the word *Spur* (track, lane) is feminine, and it stays feminine in the compound *Fahrspur*.
For the meaning 'lane': Imagine you 'fahr'en (drive - from the verb *fahren*) on your *Spur* (track/lane). This combines to form Fahrspur, the lane you drive on.
↔️ Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Spur: Often used synonymously, but more general (can mean other types of tracks/lanes).
- Fahrbahnstreifen: Slightly more formal, but same meaning (lane).
- Fahrstreifen: Also synonymous (lane).
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts)
- Seitenstreifen / Standstreifen: Shoulder (the area beside the carriageway, not for driving).
- Gehweg / Bürgersteig: Sidewalk / Pavement (for pedestrians).
- Radweg: Cycle path (for cyclists).
- Gegenfahrbahn: Opposite carriageway (lanes for traffic in the opposite direction).
Potentially Confusing Words
😂 A Little Joke
Warum wechseln Blondinen auf der Autobahn ständig die Fahrspur?
Weil auf dem Schild stand: "Ausfahrt in 1000m" - und sie wollten nicht so weit laufen! 😄
(Why do blondes constantly change lanes on the motorway?
Because the sign said: "Exit in 1000m" - and they didn't want to walk that far!)
📜 Poem about the Fahrspur
Auf grauer Bahn, so breit und lang,
zieht sich die Fahrspur, ohne Zwang.
Mal links, mal rechts, ein steter Fluss,
man hält die Spur, sonst gibt's Verdruss.
Getrennt durch Linien, weiß und klar,
so fährt man sicher, Jahr für Jahr.
(On grey track, so wide and long,
Stretches the lane, where cars belong.
Sometimes left, sometimes right, a steady flow,
Stay in your lane, or trouble grows.
Separated by lines, white and clear,
Driving safely, year after year.)
🤔 A Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Streifen auf der Straß',
für Autos da, nicht nur zum Spaß.
Man wechselt mich, mal schnell, mal sacht,
habe Linien, Tag und Nacht.
Ich leite dich auf deinem Weg,
bin auf der Autobahn kein Steg.
Was bin ich?
(I am a strip upon the road,
For cars I'm there, a useful code.
You change me, sometimes fast, sometimes slow,
I have lines that brightly glow.
I guide you onward, clear the way,
On motorways, I'm where you stay.
What am I?)
Solution: Die Fahrspur (the traffic lane)
🧩 More Details about Fahrspur
Word Composition
The word "Fahrspur" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Fahr- (Stem of the verb "fahren" - to drive/travel)
- Spur (Noun, feminine - track, trace, lane)
The meaning derives directly from its components: a lane for driving.
Trivia
- The width of a Fahrspur is standardized in Germany; on motorways (Autobahnen), it's usually 3.50 m or 3.75 m.
- Lane markings (Fahrspurmarkierungen) can vary: solid lines (durchgezogene Linien - no overtaking) or dashed lines (gestrichelte Linien - overtaking permitted).
- Special lanes include Busspuren (bus lanes) or Umweltspuren (environmental lanes, e.g., for electric cars or carpools).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fahrspur?
The German word "Fahrspur" is feminine, so the correct article is die Fahrspur. It means 'traffic lane' or simply 'lane', referring to a designated strip on a road for a single line of vehicles.