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How to Say ‘Turn right at the traffic light.’ in German

Biegen Sie an der Ampel rechts ab.

BEE-gen zee ahn dair AHM-pel rekhts ahp

[BEE-gen zee ahn dair AHM-pel rekhts ahp]

💬 Usage Tip: Any extra detail goes between the verb and ab, and ab still ends the sentence. For example, Biegen Sie an der Kreuzung links ab.

Phrase Breakdown

Biegen Sie

BEE-gen zee

Turn (formal)

Polite command that starts the instruction. The verb 'abbiegen' is split, and 'ab' comes at the end.

Example

Biegen Sie gleich ab.

Turn right away.

Words in this phrase

Biegen

[BEE-gen]

turn (part of 'abbiegen')

Formal command form of 'abbiegen' (to turn); the prefix 'ab' moves to the end of the sentence.

Example

Biegen Sie hier links ab.

Turn left here.

Sie

[zee]

you (formal)

Formal second person singular pronoun.

Example

Können Sie mir bitte folgen?

Can you please follow me?

an der Ampel

ahn dair AHM-pel

at the traffic light

'Ampel' (feminine) means traffic light. Say it 'AM-pel'. 'an der' is the dative form for location.

Example

Warten Sie an der Ampel.

Wait at the traffic light.

Words in this phrase

[ahn]

up / on / at

Separable prefix completing 'anrufen' = 'to call.'

Example

Ich rufe heute einen Klempner an, sobald der Vermieter zustimmt.

I’m calling a plumber today as soon as the landlord agrees.

der

[dair]

the

Feminine article in the dative case, used after 'in' for location.

Example

Das steht in der Zeitung.

That's in the newspaper.

Ampel

[AHM-pel]

traffic light

A feminine noun for the signal lights at a road crossing.

Example

Die Ampel ist rot.

The traffic light is red.

rechts ab.

rekhts ahp

right (turn off)

The direction, followed by the separable prefix 'ab' at the end of the sentence.

Example

Dann biegen wir rechts ab.

Then we turn right.

Words in this phrase

rechts

[rekhts]

right

Direction word meaning 'to the right' or 'right.'

Example

Das Restaurant ist rechts.

The restaurant is on the right.

[ahp]

off (separable prefix of 'abbiegen')

Separable prefix that completes the verb 'abbiegen' (to turn off), placed at the end.

Example

Bitte biegen Sie gleich ab.

Please turn off right away.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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