die  Überfahrt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˌyːbɐˈfaʁt/

🚢 What does 'die Überfahrt' mean?

The noun die Überfahrt refers to the journey or passage made by a watercraft (like a ferry or ship) from one shore, coast, or island to another. So, it's the act of crossing a body of water.

It specifically relates to the process or duration of transport across water.

• The journey itself: "Die Überfahrt dauerte zwei Stunden." (The crossing took two hours.)
• The transport process: "Wir buchten die Überfahrt online." (We booked the crossing online.)

🚨 Be careful not to confuse it with 'Fahrt' (general journey/trip, also by land) or 'Durchfahrt' (passage through something).

🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: die Überfahrt

The word 'Überfahrt' is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is die.

📜 Example Sentences

1. Die Überfahrt nach England war stürmisch. (The crossing to England was stormy.)
2. Wie viel kostet eine Überfahrt für zwei Personen und ein Auto? (How much does a crossing cost for two people and a car?)
3. Während der Überfahrt sahen wir Delfine. (During the crossing, we saw dolphins.)
4. Die Fährgesellschaft bietet mehrere Überfahrten pro Tag an. (The ferry company offers several crossings per day.)

💡 How to use 'die Überfahrt'?

The term die Überfahrt is primarily used in the context of travelling across water. Typical situations include:

• Ferry connections: Booking or describing the trip on a ferry (e.g., across a channel, lake, or sea). "Die nächste Überfahrt ist um 15 Uhr." (The next crossing is at 3 PM.)
• Sea voyages: Describing the passage between two ports or landmasses. "Die Überfahrt über den Atlantik dauerte früher Wochen." (The crossing over the Atlantic used to take weeks.)
• Boat trips: When referring to crossing a body of water, for example, to reach an island. "Die kurze Überfahrt zur Insel war sehr angenehm." (The short crossing to the island was very pleasant.)

The word is rarely used figuratively. It remains strongly associated with the physical journey across water.

Distinction:

• Fahrt: General term for a journey or movement (also on land).
• Durchfahrt: Driving through a place or passage (e.g., through a tunnel, a town).
• Überfahrt: Specifically the crossing of a body of water.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Reise (the journey) or die Fähre (the ferry) – both are feminine, just like die Überfahrt. A journey over water is often a planned Reise (feminine).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine driving (Fahrt) over (über) the water – that's the Über-fahrt.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Überfahrt

⚠️ Similar-sounding words: Be careful with 'Überfall' (attack, robbery) or 'Auffahrt' (motorway entrance ramp).

😄 A little Joke

Fragt der Passagier den Kapitän während einer stürmischen Überfahrt: "Ist es noch weit bis zum Land?"
Antwortet der Kapitän: "Nicht weit. Etwa einen Kilometer – nach unten!"

Translation:
A passenger asks the captain during a stormy crossing: "Is it still far to land?"
The captain replies: "Not far. About one kilometre – downwards!"

✍️ Poem about the Crossing

Das Schiff legt ab, die Küste klein,
Beginnt die Überfahrt im Sonnenschein.
Das Wasser glitzert, Wellen schlagen,
Wir werden sicher übers Meer getragen.
Die Möwen schreien, der Wind weht sacht,
Bis bald das andre Ufer lacht.

Translation:
The ship departs, the coast now small,
The crossing starts in sunshine for all.
The water sparkles, waves do beat,
Safely across the sea, our journey sweet.
The seagulls cry, the wind blows mild,
Soon laughs the other shore, reconciled.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bring dich übers Wasser breit,
Mal kurz, mal lang ist meine Zeit.
Ob Fähre, Boot, ob großes Schiff,
Ich bin die Reise übers Riff (oder Meer).

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I take you over water wide,
Sometimes short, sometimes long is my tide (duration).
Whether ferry, boat, or large ship's brief,
I am the journey over the reef (or sea).

What am I?

🧩 Further Details

Word Composition: The word 'Überfahrt' is a compound noun, composed of:

• über: Preposition/prefix, here indicating movement from one side to another, 'over'.
• Fahrt: Noun meaning journey, trip, or drive.

Together, they form the meaning of a journey over (a body of water).