21 December 2025
How do you say subway in German?
It’s what gets you across the city fast - underneath the traffic, between the stations, and often packed with people during rush hour. In German, it’s die U-Bahn. This is your German word of the day, and it’s essential for getting around cities like Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg.
The noun U-Bahn means subway or underground train, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. The full word is Untergrundbahn, literally “underground railway,” but U-Bahn is the usual short form.
It’s a feminine noun, so we say die U-Bahn (confused about gender in German? Our video lesson makes it easy to learn and remember).
Pronunciation
U-Bahn is pronounced [OO-bahn].
- U like “oo” in boot
- Bahn has a long ah vowel and no r sound
- Stress is on the first part: U-Bahn
It’s short, efficient, and urban - just like the transport system itself.
Example sentences:
Ich fahre jeden Tag mit der U-Bahn zur Arbeit.I take the subway to work every day.
Die U-Bahn kommt alle fünf Minuten.The subway comes every five minutes.
Nuance and usage tips
U-Bahn refers to an urban rapid-transit system that can run underground or above ground, equivalent to the subway or metro. It contrasts with:
- S-Bahn - commuter rail linking the city and suburbs (partly underground in some cities)
- Straßenbahn / Tram - streetcar or tram (usually street-level)
Typical expressions:
- mit der U-Bahn fahren - to ride the subway
- U-Bahn-Station - subway station
- U-Bahn-Linie - subway line (e.g., U2, U6)
- U-Bahn-Netz - subway network
In most German cities, U-Bahn lines are color-coded and numbered, similar to other major metro systems worldwide.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
Daily, especially in cities:
“Die U-Bahn ist voll heute.” - The subway is crowded today.“Fährt die U-Bahn auch nachts?” - Does the subway run at night?“Wir treffen uns an der U-Bahn-Station Alexanderplatz.” - Let’s meet at the Alexanderplatz subway station.
You’ll also hear U-Bahn in tourist directions, navigation apps, and station announcements.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Alex: Wie kommst du zur Uni?Nina: Mit der U-Bahn, Linie U8.Alex: Ist die schnell?Nina: Meistens ja - außer wenn irgendwas kaputt ist.
Alex: How do you get to university?Nina: By subway, line U8.Alex: Is it fast?Nina: Usually - unless something’s broken.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:Die U-Bahn ist heute pünktlich.The subway is on time today.
Accusative:Ich nehme die U-Bahn zur Schule.I take the subway to school.
Dative:Mit der U-Bahn bist du schneller.You’re faster with the subway.
Genitive:Die Türen der U-Bahn schließen automatisch.The subway doors close automatically.
Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der
Word variations and language tidbits
Useful related words:
- U-Bahn-Plan - subway map
- U-Bahn-Fahrer(in) - subway driver
- U-Bahn-Tunnel - subway tunnel
- U-Bahn-Haltestelle - subway stop
- U-Bahn-Ticket - subway ticket
Fun fact: In Berlin, the U-Bahn is run by the BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe), and “Weil wir dich lieben” (Because we love you) is a BVG slogan.
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