Nach dem Weg fragen
On the wrong bus
Enis wants to get to the main station, but he takes the wrong bus. When he gets off, he runs into his neighbour Lena. His train leaves in 20 minutes.
Lena! Gott sei Dank. Ich glaube, ich bin im falschen Bus gelandet.Lena! Thank goodness. I think I got on the wrong bus.
Oh je. Wo willst du denn hin?Oh dear. Where are you trying to get to?
Zum Hauptbahnhof. Mein Zug fährt in 20 Minuten!The main station. My train leaves in 20 minutes!
Kein Stress. Geh hier geradeaus bis zur Ampel, dann links. Da ist die S-Bahn-Station.Don't panic. Go straight on here as far as the traffic lights, then left. The S-Bahn station is there.
Bis zur Ampel, dann links. Und wie lange dauert das?As far as the lights, then left. And how long does it take?
Mit der S-Bahn zwei Stationen. Vielleicht zehn Minuten insgesamt.Two stops on the S-Bahn. Maybe ten minutes altogether.
Du bist meine Rettung. Danke!You're a lifesaver. Thanks!
Lauf einfach, du schaffst das! Und nächstes Mal: Frag mich vorher.Just run, you'll make it! And next time: ask me first.
Useful words
der Hauptbahnhof (Hbf)main station
der Bus (die Busse)bus
falschwrong
der Zug (die Züge)train
geradeausstraight on
die Ampel (die Ampeln)traffic lights
linksleft, on the left
die S-Bahncity and suburban train
die Station (die Stationen)stop, station
insgesamtaltogether, in total
umsteigento change (trains or buses)
Language note
Wo willst du hin? means "Where do you want to go?" German often splits wohin (where to) into wo … hin. Careful with will: ich will / er will means "I want" / "he wants", not "I will": Ich will zum Bahnhof is "I want to go to the station". For the future, German usually just uses the present tense (Ich gehe morgen) or werden (Ich werde gehen).
Culture note
In German cities, the S-Bahn (city and suburban trains), the U-Bahn (underground) and buses are different networks, but one ticket from the local transport association (Verkehrsverbund) usually covers all of them. On signs, Hauptbahnhof is shortened to Hbf.
Lifesaver phrases
Bin ich hier richtig für …?Am I in the right place for …?
Wie komme ich am schnellsten zu …?What's the quickest way to …?
Muss ich umsteigen?Do I have to change?
Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: