How to Ask When a Bus or Train Leaves in German
Learn to ask what time the next bus or train leaves in German, understand simple schedule answers, and avoid confusing departure with arrival times.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If you need to catch a bus or train in a German-speaking country, the most useful question you can ask is when it leaves. In German, this uses the verb fahren (to go, to travel) and the question word wann (when). This lesson teaches you to ask about departure times, understand common schedule replies, and recognize that arrival questions use a different verb, ankommen. You will practise polite forms for strangers and simple forms for friends or staff.
By the end, you can…
- ask what time the next bus or train leaves in German.
- understand simple schedule answers about departure times.
- tell the difference between asking about departure and arrival.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wann fährt der nächste Bus?
When does the next bus leave?
vahn fairt dair NAYK-stuh booss
Standard question for a bus. Use der Bus because Bus is masculine.
Wann fährt der nächste Zug?
When does the next train leave?
vahn fairt dair NAYK-stuh tsook
Use der Zug for a train. Same pattern as the bus question.
Wann fährt die nächste Straßenbahn?
When does the next tram leave?
vahn fairt dee NAYK-stuh SHTRAH-sen-bahn
Use die Straßenbahn because Straßenbahn is feminine. In Austria you may hear Bim in casual speech.
Um wie viel Uhr fährt der Bus?
At what time does the bus leave?
oom vee feel oor fairt dair booss
Asks for a clock time rather than the next departure. Um wie viel Uhr is the standard way to ask at what time.
Der Bus fährt um zehn Uhr.
The bus leaves at ten o'clock.
dair booss fairt oom tsayn oor
A typical schedule answer. German uses um before clock times.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Wann fährt der/die nächste ...? The verb fahren changes to fährt with er, sie or es. The word nächste means next and takes an ending that matches the noun: der nächste Bus, die nächste Straßenbahn, das nächste Taxi. For a specific time, use Um wie viel Uhr fährt ...? and answer with Um plus the time, for example Um zehn Uhr. Do not use ankommen here, because ankommen means to arrive, not to leave.
When to use it
Use Wann fährt ...? when you are at a stop or station and want the next departure. Use Um wie viel Uhr fährt ...? when you already know there is a service and want its exact time. If you are asking about a train, say der Zug; about a tram, die Straßenbahn; about a bus, der Bus. For a polite question to a stranger, add Entschuldigung at the start: Entschuldigung, wann fährt der nächste Zug? This is standard in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, wann fährt der nächste Bus?
Excuse me, when does the next bus leave?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, vahn fairt dair NAYK-stuh boossDer nächste Bus fährt um halb drei.
The next bus leaves at half past two.dair NAYK-stuh booss fairt oom hahlp dryDanke. Und wann fährt der Zug?
Thank you. And when does the train leave?DAHN-kuh. oont vahn fairt dair tsookDer Zug fährt um vierzehn Uhr zwanzig.
The train leaves at 14:20.dair tsook fairt oom FEER-tsayn oor TSVAHN-tsikhA little context goes a long way
German-speaking transport announcements and timetables often use the 24-hour clock, so vierzehn Uhr zwanzig means 14:20, not 2:20 in the afternoon. In casual speech, people also say zwei Uhr zwanzig for 2:20. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, halb drei means half past two, not half to three. Always check whether a time is written in 24-hour form.
One thing to watch for
Using ankommen to ask when a bus or train leaves, as in Wann ankommt der Bus?
Try this instead: Use fahren for departure: Wann fährt der Bus? Use ankommen only for arrival: Wann kommt der Bus an? In a main clause, the separable prefix an- goes to the end.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask when the next train leaves?
Show a sample answer
Wann fährt der nächste Zug?
This uses fahren for departure and der nächste Zug because Zug is masculine. Wann fährt der nächste Zug? is the standard form.
2What does Der Bus fährt um acht Uhr mean?
Show a sample answer
The bus leaves at eight o'clock.
Fährt means leaves or goes, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. German uses um before clock times.
3How would you ask about a tram instead of a bus?
Show a sample answer
Wann fährt die nächste Straßenbahn?
Straßenbahn is feminine, so the article and nächste change to die nächste. In Austria, Bim may be used casually, but Straßenbahn is understood everywhere.
Ask Wann fährt der nächste Bus/Zug? for the next departure, and use Um wie viel Uhr fährt ...? for an exact time. Remember that fahren is for leaving and ankommen is for arriving.
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