German Travel Vocabulary
Flughafen (airport) literally means 'flight harbor' - Flug (flight) plus Hafen (harbor). German travel vocabulary is full of compounds like this, built by stacking simpler words instead of inventing new ones.
trip / journey
airport
airplane
suitcase
passport
ticket
train
train station
hotel
room
map
vacation
abroad
sight / attraction
luggage
to book
border
ID card
Compound Words Make Travel Vocabulary Easier, Not Harder
Once you know Flug (flight) and Hafen (harbor), Flughafen stops being a new word to memorize and starts being two familiar pieces stuck together. The same logic applies across travel vocabulary - Bahnhof (train station) is Bahn (railway) plus Hof (yard).
The One Question That Gets You Anywhere
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? ('Excuse me, where is the train station?') follows a pattern that works for almost any destination - just swap in der Flughafen, das Hotel, or wherever you're actually headed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Flughafen actually mean?+
Literally 'flight harbor' - Flug (flight) plus Hafen (harbor), the same word used for a seaport.
How do I ask where something is in German?+
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? works as a template - swap in any destination after wo ist to ask where it is.
Why are German travel words often so long?+
They're usually compounds of two or more shorter, familiar words stacked together, like Bahnhof (Bahn plus Hof) or Flughafen (Flug plus Hafen), rather than single new words to memorize.
How do I practice this travel vocabulary?+
Select the words you want, then use the bar at the bottom to start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test.
Practice Travel Vocabulary
Study these 18 words with flashcards, a quiz, or a final test.
Play Travel Vocabulary Games
Turn these 18 words into a quick game — same words, a different way to practice.
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