When you want to get around in a German-speaking country, you’ll need to know some basic travel vocabulary. In this lesson, you’ll learn the German names for common places like the bank, hotel, and school.
You’ll also find out how to ask and respond to the question, “Where are you going?”
It’s a very useful lesson for travelers and one that is relatively easy because you can practice as you go places around your own town.
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Pair this lesson with one that teaches you how to ask for directions and you’ll be on your way.
Where to? (Wohin?)
Before we dive into the vocabulary, there are a few important reminders to take care of. First of all, when some one asks you Wohin? in German, they’re asking “Where to?”
Then, there is the little matter of in (meaning “in”) versus zu (meaning “to”). What is the difference between saying Ich gehe ins Kino and saying Ich gehe zum Kino? While both state that “I am going to the movies,” there is a distinction.
Using ins Kino implies that you are going inside (to see a movie).
Using zum Kino implies you are going to that location (to meet someone out front, etc.)
Places to Go in Town
There are many common places to go “in town” (in der Stadt). You will find many of those in this first vocabulary list and you might even notice many similarities to the English translations.
Both the basic word and the “to” phrase are given for each location.
For example, die Bäckerei is “the bakery.” When you want to say “to the bakery,” it’s zur Bäckerei (the short form of zu der Bäckerei).
Some of the phrases may have more than one way to say “to.” In these instances, the most common way is used in the chart.
You will also want to keep the following contractions in mind:
ins = in das
zum = zu dem
zur = zu der
| Englisch | Deutsch |
| bakery to the bakery |
die Bäckerei zur Bäckerei |
| bank to the bank |
die Bank zur Bank |
| bar/pub to the bar/pub |
die Kneipe in die Kneipe |
| butcher to the butcher |
der Fleischer/der Metzger zum Fleischer/zum Metzger |
| hotel to the hotel |
das Hotel zum Hotel |
| market/fleamarket to the market |
der Markt/der Flohmarkt zum Markt/zum Flohmarkt |
| cinema to the movies/cinema |
das Kino ins/zum Kino |
| the post office to the post office |
die Post zur Post |
| restaurant to the restaurant |
das Restaurant ins/zum Restaurant |
| to a/the Chinese restaurant | zum Chinesen |
| to an/the Italian restaurant | zum Italiener |
| to a/the Greek restaurant | zum Griechen |
| school to school |
die Schule zur Schule |
| the shopping center to the shopping center |
das Einkaufszentrum zum Einkaufszentrum |
| the traffic light/signal (up) to the signal |
die Ampel bis zur Ampel |
| the train station to the station |
der Bahnhof zum Bahnhof |
| work to work |
die Arbeit zur Arbeit |
| the youth hostel to the youth hostel |
die Jugendherberge in die Jugendherberge |
Going Elsewhere (Anderswo)
There are times when you will want to go somewhere else, so a quick study of other common places is a good idea as well.
| Englisch | Deutsch |
| the lake to the lake |
der See an den See |
| the sea to the sea |
die See/das Meer ans Meer |
| the toilet/restroom to the toilet/restroom |
die Toilette/das Klo/das WC zur Toilette/zum Klo/zum WC |
Questions and Answers (Fragen und Antworten)
Next, we’ll study a few sample questions and answers related to asking and giving directions. This is an introduction to German grammar as well. What’s most important is to learn the patterns for the various articles (der/die/das) for each gender (masculine/feminine/neuter).
Keep in mind that if you are walking, you will use gehen. If you are driving, use fahren.
| Englisch | Deutsch |
| Where are you going? (driving/traveling) | Wohin fahren Sie? / Wohin fährst du? |
| I’m going to the lake tomorrow. | Ich fahre morgen an den See. |
| I’m going to Dresden tomorrow. | Ich fahre morgen nach Dresden. |
| How do I get… …to the bank? …to the hotel? …to the post office? |
Wie komme ich… …zur Bank? ..zum Hotel? ..zur Post? |
| Go two blocks (streets) and then right. | Gehen Sie zwei Straßen und dann rechts. |
| Drive down/along this street. | Fahren Sie diese Straße entlang. |
| Go up to the traffic light and then left. | Gehen Sie bis zur Ampel und dann links. |
Extra Expressions (Extra-Ausdrücke)
In your travels you will also find these phrases to be very useful. They tell you how to get where you’re going and can be used within some of the answers used above.
| Englisch | Deutsch |
| past the church | an der Kirche vorbei |
| past the cinema | am Kino vorbei |
| right/left at the traffic light | rechts/links an der Ampel |
| at the market square | am Marktplatz |
| at the corner | an der Ecke |
| the next street | die nächste Straße |
| across/over the street | über die Straße |
| across the market square | über den Marktplatz |
| in front of the train station | vor dem Bahnhof |
| in front of the church | vor der Kirche |