The train service for the German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) is available in English: You can book your train ticket online or at a ticket vending machine and probably get by without a single word of German.
But why not try out some Deutsch with the agent at the ticket counter or your fellow travelers on the train? It's true that most Germans speak English, but ein bisschen (a little) German can open a lot of doors and is always appreciated.
In this German travel glossary you'll find the most used German vocabulary and expressions related to rail travel in Germany; learn how to book your train tickets in German, and get to know essential phrases that you can use on the train or in the train stations. You'll find the pronounciation in parentheses. Just read it out loud, the capitalized part of the word should be emphasized.
Gute Reise! (GOO-tuh RY-suh) - Have a good trip!
German For Travelers: Train Travel Glossary
| English | German |
| When does the train leave to....? | Wann fährt der Zug nach...? (Von fairt dare tsoog noch...?) |
| When does the train arrive in...? | Wann kommt der Zug in...an? (Von kommt dare tsoog in... ahn?) |
| How much is the ticket? | Was kostet die Fahrkarte? (Vas KOS-tet dee FAHR-kartuh?) |
| A ticket to..., please | Bitte eine Fahrkarte nach... (BIT-tuh EYE-ne FAHR-kartuh nach....) |
| round trip | hin und zurück (heen oont tsoo-RIK) |
| one way | einfach (EYEN-fach) |
| First class | Erste Klasse (AIR-stuh CLASS-uh) |
| Second Class | Zweite Klasse (TSV-eyete CLASS-uh) |
| Thank you | Danke (DAHN-kuh) |
| Do I have to change trains? | Muss ich umsteigen? (Moos ish OOM-shty-gen?) |
| Where is the platform? | Wo ist der Bahnsteig? (Vo ist dare BAHN-shtyg?) |
| Is this seat free? | Ist der Platz hier frei? (Ist dare plats heer fry?) |
| This seat is occupied. | Hier ist besetzt. (Here ist BUH-setst.) |
| Could you please help me? | Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (KEN-nen zee mer bit-TUH HEL-fen? |
| Excuse my, I think this is my seat | Entschuldigen Sie, ich glaube das ist mein Platz. (ent-SHOOL-degen zee, ish GLOU-buh das ist mine plats.) |
German Greetings for Travelers
Useful Phrases for Dining Out
