English-German Travel Glossary
Reise-Lexikon: L-Z
Englisch-Deutsches Reise-Lexikon
TRAVEL VOCABULARY > A-K > L-Z
Noun genders are indicated by: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
Abbreviations used: adj. (adjective), n. (noun), pl. (plural), v. (verb)
Also see:
Automobile Glossary
Euro & Money Glossary
Essential German
Menu and Dining Guide
Rail Travel Glossary
Related Links (below)
More vocabulary from your Guide: English-German Glossaries
L
local call s Ortsgespräch
locomotive e Lok
For more train vocabulary see our Rail Travel Glossary.
long distance call s Ferngespräch
to make a long distance call ein Ferngespräch führen
luggage s Gepäck, (pl.) die Koffer (suitcases)
Lufthansa Lufthansa (German airline)
The airline's name is a combination of Luft (air) and Hansa (the Hanseatic League of northern Germany).
German For Travelers: The Basics
M
map e Landkarte, r Stadtplan (city map), e Straßenkarte (road map)
mark e (Deutsche) Mark (=100 Pfennig, old German currency)
Note: As of 1 Jan. 2002, der Euro replaced the old currencies used in 12 European countries, including Austria and Germany. Neither marks nor schillings are in circulation any longer. See our Euro & Money Glossary for more.
mobile phone s Mobiltelefon, s Handy
modem s Modem
money s Geld
money exchange (office) r Geldwechsel, e Wechselstube
money transfer e Geldüberweisung
Germans have a checking system that works a bit differently from that in North America. While US checks are made payable to an individual or a company name, the Germans use a Geldüberweisung or money transfer made out to a bank account number rather than a name. The transfer is made from bank account to bank account, in much the same way that a debit card works.
N
name r Name (pron. NAHM-uh)
first name r Vorname
last name r Nachname, r Familienname
When Germans ask "Wie ist Ihr Name?," they are asking for your LAST name, not your first. When checking into a hotel, you may see the terms above (first/last name) on the registration form.
P
passenger r Fahrgast (rail), r Fluggast (air), r Passagier (air, ship)
passengers, travelers (pl.) Reisende, Fahrgäste, Fluggäste, Passagiere
passport r Reisepass, r Pass (pl., Pässe)
passport inspection/check e Passkontrolle
passport office s Passamt
pay/public phone das öffentliche Telefon
Note: With the increasing use of wireless/mobile phones in Europe, public phones are becoming more and more rare. The rate of cell phone use in Europe is higher than in the US However, normal US wireless phones will not work in Europe.
pfennig r Pfennig (100 Pfennig = 1 Mark, old German currency)
50 pfennigs 50 Pfennig
phone card e Telefonkarte
For more, see our Telephone Vocabulary page.
Note: German/European phone cards are so-called "smart cards" that keep track of a card's remaining value as it's used. Older Austrian card phones also print a visible mark on the card indicating the amount remaining. A German telephone card must be inserted in a card phone before the remaining amount can be read on the phone's screen.
pilot r Pilot, r Flugkapitän
platform (train) r Bahnsteig
For more train vocabulary see our Rail Travel Glossary.
please bitte
German For Travelers: The Basics
port, harbor r Hafen
R
rail/train station r Bahnhof
For more train vocabulary see our Rail Travel Glossary.
restaurant e Gaststätte, s Restaurant
restroom, toilet, loo, WC e Toilette, das Klo, das WC (See more under "toilet" below.)
rent-a-car (agency), auto rental/hire r Autoverleih
rental/hire car r Mietwagen, r Leihwagen
road map e Straßenkarte
S
savings bank, savings and loan e Sparkasse
schedule, timetable r Fahrplan
schilling r Schilling (=100 Groschen, Austria)
No longer in circulation. For the current euro exchange rate (Wechselkurs), see The Universal Currency Converter.
sea s Meer
by/on/at the sea/ocean am Meer
ship s Schiff
by ship mit dem Schiff
station (train) r Bahnhof
steamer r Dampfer, s Dampfschiff
steward r Steward, r Flugbegleiter
stewardess, flight attendant e Stewardess, e Flugbegleiterin
suitcase(s) r Koffer (die Koffer), s Gepäck (baggage, luggage)
summer vacation die Sommerferien (pl.)
swim v. baden, schwimmen
swimming s Baden, s Schwimmen
swim suit r Badeanzug, e Badehose (trunks)
Swiss franc r Schweizerfranken (=100 Rappen)
For the current exchange rate (Wechselkurs), see The Universal Currency Converter. The Swiss have not adopted the euro.
T
telephone n. s Telefon, r Apparat
The older and truly German term for telephone, der Fernsprecher, is rarely used today.
telephone, call up v. telefonieren, anrufen
telephone book/directory s Telefonbuch
local telephone book das Örtliche
telephone booth/box e Telefonzelle
thank you danke, Vielen Dank!
German For Travelers: The Basics
ticket The following terms all mean "ticket" (sing./pl.):
s Ticket/Tickets (air, event)
r Fahrschein/Fahrscheine (bus, rail)
e Fahrkarte/Fahrkarten (general)
e Flugkarte/Flugkarten (air)
r Flugschein/Flugscheine (air)
ticket counter/office/window r Kartenschalter
timetable, schedule r Fahrplan
toilet, loo, restroom, WC e Toilette, das Klo, das WC (water closet)
Where is the restroom/toilet? Wo ist das WC/die Toilette? (WC, spoken "vay-say")
to go to the WC/loo/restroom aufs Klo gehen, auf die Toilette gehen
Germans generally do not use euphemisms for "toilet" as in English (restroom, powder room, head, can, john). A toilet is a toilet. Do not ask where das Badezimmer is! Your hosts will wonder why you want to take a bath in their house!
track, rail s Gleis, e Schiene (single rail)
For more train vocabulary see our Rail Travel Glossary.
travel n. s Reisen
travel v. fahren, reisen
We're traveling to Berlin. Wir fahren/reisen nach Berlin.
travel agency/bureau e Reiseagentur, s Reisebüro
travel brochure r Reiseprospekt
travelog(ue) r Reisebericht, s Reisebüro
trip, journey e Reise, e Fahrt
take a trip eine Reise machen, reisen
V
vacation, holidays die Ferien (pl.), r Urlaub
on vacation/holiday auf Urlaub
go on vacation/holiday Urlaub machen, in Urlaub fahren
visa (travel permit) s Visum (pl., die Visen)
Visa card (credit card) e Visakarte (e Kreditkarte)
W
waiting room/hall r Warteraum, e Wartehalle
waiting time e Wartezeit
WC (toilet) s WC (pron. vay-say) Also see Toilette above.
wing(s) r Flügel (pl., die Flügel)
Y
youth hostel e Jugendherberge
There are over 600 youth hostels across Germany. See the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) Web site.
Travel Glossary: A-K
Part One of this glossary
Related Pages
Automobile & Driving Glossary
An annotated, illustrated English-German glossary of motoring terms and traffic signs.
Euro & Money Glossary
An annotated English-German glossary of terms related to the new euro and money in general.
German For Travelers: The Basics
An introduction to essential travel vocabulary, from your Guide.
Menu and Dining Guide
An annotated German-English glossary related to food and dining.
Rail Travel Glossary
An annotated English-German glossary related to train travel.
Am Telefon
Our feature on telephone vocabulary, plus tips.
Europe for Visitors
About's guide to European travel.
Glossaries
All of the English-German glossaries here at our site.
Online Dictionaries
Links for online and print dictionaries and glossaries for German.
Related Links
German Culture
General cultural information from Tatyana Gordeeva.
German National Tourist Office
The official German tourism Web site.
The German Way
General cultural information for English-speakers traveling or living in Germany. Based on the book of the same name by your Guide.
Das Handy - The German Way
Will your wireless phone work in Germany? The cell phone page at The German Way site offers information, pictures, and links.
Telephone Tips - The German Way
The telephone page at The German Way site offers more information, links, and help.
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