die  Rückfahrt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁʏkˌfaːɐ̯t/

🗺️ What does "die Rückfahrt" mean?

Die Rückfahrt (noun, feminine) means the return journey or trip back to the starting point or home after being somewhere else. It's the opposite of the Hinfahrt (outward journey).

Example: Nach einem schönen Urlaub freuen sich viele auf die Rückfahrt nach Hause. (After a nice vacation, many look forward to the return journey home.)

This word consistently uses the article "die" and has this primary meaning.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Rückfahrt

The word "Rückfahrt" is a feminine noun. The article is "die".

Example Sentences

• Die Rückfahrt vom Büro nach Hause dauert oft länger.
  (The return journey from the office home often takes longer.)
• Wir planen die Rückfahrt für Sonntagabend.
  (We are planning the return journey for Sunday evening.)
• Während der Rückfahrt schliefen die Kinder im Auto.
  (During the return journey, the children slept in the car.)
• Die Kosten für Hin- und Rückfahrt sind im Preis enthalten.
  (The costs for the outward and return journey are included in the price.)

🚗 When to use "die Rückfahrt"?

"Rückfahrt" is mainly used in the context of travel, excursions, or daily commutes.

• Travel: Planning or describing the journey home after a vacation or business trip. (e.g., Die Rückfahrt aus Italien war anstrengend. - The return journey from Italy was tiring.)
• Commuting: Describing the way back home from work, school, or another place. (e.g., Meine Rückfahrt dauert normalerweise 30 Minuten. - My return journey usually takes 30 minutes.)
• Transport: Often used in connection with tickets. (e.g., Ich brauche ein Ticket für die Hin- und Rückfahrt. - I need a round-trip ticket / a ticket for the outward and return journey.)

Compared to Rückreise (return trip/journey), Rückfahrt is often used for shorter distances or specific journeys involving a vehicle (car, train, bus), while Rückreise is more general and can also cover longer trips (e.g., by plane). However, the distinction is not always strict.

🧠 Mnemonics for Rückfahrt

Article Mnemonic: Most nouns ending in -fahrt are feminine (die). Think of die Fahrt (the drive/trip), so it's die Rückfahrt.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Rück" sounds like "rucksack" which you carry on your journey. When you go back, you take your rucksack on the Rückfahrt (return journey). Or simply: "Rück" means back, so it's the journey back.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette die Rückfahrt immer mit dem Zug?

Weil sie keine Knochenarbeit mehr leisten wollen!

Translation: Why do skeletons always take the train for the return journey?
Because they don't want to do any more bone-work (hard work)! (Okay, it's a bit of a pun, but it involves a journey 😉)

📜 Poem about the Rückfahrt

Die Koffer schwer, das Herz noch voll,
Die Hinfahrt war so wundervoll.
Doch nun heißt's kehren, nach Haus zurück,
Beginnt die Rückfahrt, Stück für Stück.
Der Weg bekannt, die Zeit verrinnt,
Bis man daheim ist, jedes Kind.

Translation:
The suitcases heavy, the heart still full,
The outward journey was so wonderful.
But now it's time to turn back home,
The return journey starts, piece by piece we roam.
The path is known, time slips away,
Until we're home, every child, hurray.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin das Ende einer Reise,
führ' dich nach Haus auf altbekannte Weise.
Ich folge stets der ersten Tour,
bin oft im Ticket, auf der Spur.

Was bin ich?

Lösung/Solution: Die Rückfahrt

Translation:
I am the end of a journey,
I lead you home in a familiar way, certainly.
I always follow the first tour,
Often found on the ticket, that's for sure.

What am I?
Answer: The return journey (Die Rückfahrt)

💡 Other Information about Rückfahrt

Word Composition:

The word "Rückfahrt" is a compound noun, composed of:

• rück-: Prefixoid, derived from the adverb "zurück" (back), indicating direction.
• Fahrt: Noun, derived from the verb "fahren" (to drive, travel).

So, it literally describes a "journey back".