American's Guide to the German Autobahn
Three Pieces of Useful Vocab
Traveling to a country where a foreign language is spoken can be a daunting prospect. Here are some words that I learned along the way while traveling, shopping, and sight-seeing in Germany.
Die Abfahrt
For the longest time, I thought the robot person on the Deutsche Bahn loudspeaker was saying “abfack” or “absack”. Then, finally, I remembered something from my German vocab – Abfahrt, meaning “departure”. In the context of the loudspeaker, the train number gets spoken first, followed by Abfahrt, and finally, the originally scheduled time of departure.
Here is an example.
“ICE 509 Abfahrt 10:11. Achten Sie bei der Einfahrt.”
My translation to American English for this would be: “ICE 509 departing 10:11 AM. Arriving now; take caution.”
Tip: If you get to your train stop early, spend some time listening to the loudspeaker to practice identifying numbers and time in German. Don’t forget that time is handled in the 24-hour format.
Die Unterschrift
When you check out by credit card, the receptionist is likely to ask to compare the signature on the back of your card against the signature you leave on the machine or receipt. Be prepared for this by knowing the word “Unterschrift”, a feminine noun meaning “signature”.
If you use an American credit card on a German checkout vestibule, you may be asked a couple questions. Firstly, you may be asked whether you want to transaction to be enacted in local currency (E.g., Euros), or in U.S. dollars. Generally, I opt to use U.S. dollars, because the exchange fee with my credit card is constant; you may not know exactly the exchange rate at the vestibule. Next, you may be asked by the cashier to hand over your credit card, so that your signature may be compared to any receipts that you sign. I have had more than one cashier get frustrated at me for not understanding these instructions!
Additionally, sometimes, you may not be able to use an American credit card at smaller kiosks and shops. Therefore, it is best practice in Germany (and most Europeans countries) to carry cash with you while traveling. I missed out on a botanical garden, ice cream at the base of an ancient cathedral, and some badly needed toiletries in Wroclaw, Poland, because I forgot to get cash from the ATM while I was still in the main city area.
Tip: Use ATMs that are located inside of banks. These are more likely to be monitored, and less likely to have been tampered with. Additionally, I personally feel more secure handling cash inside of an establishment, rather than on a street – especially as a solo traveler.
verzögern, die Verspätung
Sometimes, you might hear the word "verzögert" or "Verspätung". Unfortunately, this means your train is running late. Be very attentive if your train is late! Your platform might need to change depending on how late it is.
Tip: Download the Deutsche Bahn app on your phone. If you have an international phone plan, or you are able to connect to WiFi, be sure to refresh your trip to get any updates on platform changes and expected arrival. However, do not rely on the app 100%. Always look at the signs and listen to the loudspeaker for more information