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How to Say ‘The subway was delayed.’ in German

Die U-Bahn hatte Verspätung.

dee OO-bahn HAT-teh fair-SHPAY-toong

[dee OO-bahn HAT-teh fair-SHPAY-toong]

💬 Usage Tip: German says a train "had delay": hatte Verspätung, with no word for "a". Swap in other transport: Der Zug hatte Verspätung "The train was delayed".

Phrase Breakdown

Die U-Bahn

dee OO-bahn

the subway / underground

'U-Bahn' is short for 'Untergrundbahn'. Say the 'U' like 'oo', then 'Bahn' with a long 'a'. It is feminine, so it takes 'die'.

Example

Die U-Bahn ist voll.

The subway is full.

Words in this phrase

Die

[dee]

the

Definite article used to specify something already known.

Example

Die Katze ist süß.

The cat is cute.

U-Bahn

[OO-bahn]

subway, underground

Feminine noun for an underground city train; short for Untergrundbahn.

Example

Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn zur Arbeit.

I take the subway to work.

hatte Verspätung.

HAT-teh fair-SHPAY-toong

was delayed (literally: had delay)

'hatte' is the past tense of 'haben' (to have). 'Verspätung' means 'delay'. The 'V' sounds like 'f', and the stress is on 'SPÄ'.

Example

Der Zug hatte Verspätung.

The train was delayed.

Words in this phrase

hatte

[HAT-teh]

had

Simple past of 'haben' (to have), used for he/she/it and I.

Example

Er hatte keine Zeit.

He had no time.

Verspätung

[fair-SHPAY-toong]

delay

Feminine noun; when something is later than planned.

Example

Der Flug hat eine Verspätung.

The flight has a delay.

Guides for German learners

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