German course

Lesson 104 of 240

New here? This is lesson 104 of a free 240-lesson German course.

Start hereHow this works

High-speed rail in German

Priya needs an ICE seat to Hamburg for a later weekend with Jule. She goes to the ticket counter, not the bakery, and keeps the order short.

The clerk will ask when she wants to go, then print a ticket. Gleis is the number on the board, not the coach.

By the end, you'll buy a ticket, reserve a seat, name the platform, and ask when the ICE arrives.

Anton is already on a bench. He is exactly on time for yesterday's train.

By the end of this lesson

Buy an ICE ticket, find the platform, and pick a seat.

  • Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.A ticket to Hamburg, please.
  • Ich möchte einen Sitzplatz reservieren.I'd like to reserve a seat.
  • Der Zug fährt von Gleis 5.The train leaves from platform 5.
  • Der Zug hat Verspätung.The train is delayed.
  • Ich sitze in Wagen 7.I'm in coach 7.
  • Wann kommt der ICE an?When does the ICE arrive?

Scene — the ticket counter

Priya stands at a ticket counter with her backpack. The clerk waits behind the glass.

Anton sits on a nearby bench with his satchel and his Deutschlandticket on a cord. He looks at the board as if the train is his.

Priya approaches the ticket counter while Anton watches the departure board from a nearby bench.

Learn — ticket, platform, seat

Six lines cover a ticket to Hamburg, a reserved seat, the platform, a delay, and your coach.

You'll also ask when the ICE arrives. Gleis is the number on the board.

  1. Priya asks the clerk for a ticket to Hamburg.

    Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.

    A ticket to Hamburg, please.

    When to use it: Say this at the counter when you want a train ticket.

    Eine goes with Fahrkarte for the ticket you want.

    Say it: Fahrkarte puts the stress on the first syllable.

  2. Priya asks to reserve a seat for her weekend journey.

    Ich möchte einen Sitzplatz reservieren.

    I'd like to reserve a seat.

    When to use it: Say this when you want a reserved seat on the train.

    Einen marks Sitzplatz as the thing you want.

    Say it: Möchte uses ö, with rounded lips on that vowel.

  3. Priya listens as the clerk points toward the platforms.

    Der Zug fährt von Gleis 5.

    The train leaves from platform 5.

    When to use it: Use this when you tell someone the platform.

    Gleis is the number on the board, not the coach.

    Say it: Fährt uses ä, an open eh in the middle.

  4. Anton sits beneath the departure board, looking up as he waits.

    Der Zug hat Verspätung.

    The train is delayed.

    When to use it: Say this when the train is running late.

    Hat Verspätung is the set way to name a delay.

  5. The clerk passes Priya her newly printed ticket.

    Ich sitze in Wagen 7.

    I'm in coach 7.

    When to use it: Say this to tell someone your coach number.

    Wagen is the coach, not the platform on the board.

  6. Anton stands by the departure board and asks the clerk when the ICE will arrive.

    Wann kommt der ICE an?

    When does the ICE arrive?

    When to use it: Ask this to find out the arrival time.

    The prefix an stands at the end of the clause.

Story — yesterday's train

Watch Priya buy an ICE seat for a later weekend with Jule. The clerk asks when she wants to go.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The hall is busy this afternoon. Priya steps up to the glass.
  2. ClerkGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  3. PriyaGuten Tag. Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.Good afternoon. A ticket to Hamburg, please.
  4. ClerkFür wann möchten Sie fahren?When would you like to travel?
  5. PriyaAm Wochenende. Ich möchte einen Sitzplatz reservieren.At the weekend. I'd like to reserve a seat.
  6. ClerkNehmen Sie den ICE um neun am Samstag?Are you taking the nine o'clock ICE on Saturday?
  7. PriyaJa, bitte.Yes, please.
  8. ClerkEinen Moment, bitte.One moment, please.
  9. The clerk prints the ticket. Anton glances at the board.
  10. ClerkHier ist Ihre Fahrkarte. Sie sitzen in Wagen 7.Here is your ticket. You are in coach 7.
  11. PriyaIch sitze in Wagen 7. Wann kommt der ICE an?I'm in coach 7. When does the ICE arrive?
  12. ClerkIhr ICE kommt am Samstag um dreizehn Uhr an.Your ICE arrives at one p.m. on Saturday.
  13. Anton stands by the board. He is exactly on time, for yesterday.
  14. AntonDer Zug fährt von Gleis 5. Wann kommt der ICE an?The train leaves from platform 5. When does the ICE arrive?
  15. ClerkDer Zug hat Verspätung.The train is delayed.
  16. ClerkDie neue Ankunftszeit ist noch nicht bekannt.The new arrival time is not yet known.

Practice — gleis or wagen

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.Drop the English here
    Der Zug hat Verspätung.Drop the English here
    Wann kommt der ICE an?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You are at the counter and you need a train ticket to Hamburg.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'd like to reserve a seat.

    Ich möchte ____ Sitzplatz reservieren.

  5. What does it mean?

    Der Zug hat Verspätung.

  6. Build the line

    When does the ICE arrive?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    In welchem Wagen sitzen Sie?

    Which coach are you in?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Replace ICE with the general German word for a train.

    Der ____ fährt von Gleis 5.

  9. What do you say?

    It is afternoon at the ticket counter. Greet the clerk.

  10. True or false?

    This is how you ask for a ticket to Hamburg.

  11. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    Für wann möchten Sie fahren?

    When would you like to travel?

    And you reply with:

Say it — buy the seat

Now you're Priya at the ticket counter with the clerk. Anton is on the bench. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  2. Priya (you)Ask for a ticket to Hamburg.

    Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.

    A ticket to Hamburg, please.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Eine Fahrkarte nach Hamburg, bitte.A ticket to Hamburg, please.
Ich möchte einen Sitzplatz reservieren.I'd like to reserve a seat.
Der Zug fährt von Gleis 5.The train leaves from platform 5.
Der Zug hat Verspätung.The train is delayed.
Ich sitze in Wagen 7.I'm in coach 7.
Wann kommt der ICE an?When does the ICE arrive?
Next: lesson 105Hail a taxi

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your ticket lines ready for the counter.

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