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How to Say ‘The train leaves at nine o'clock.’ in German

Der Zug fährt um neun Uhr ab.

dair tsook fairt oom noyn oor ahp

[dair tsook fairt oom noyn oor ahp]

💬 Usage Tip: abfahren "to depart" splits apart. fährt comes second and ab goes to the very end. Same with ankommen "to arrive": der Zug kommt um zehn Uhr an.

Phrase Breakdown

Der Zug fährt

dair tsook fairt

The train leaves / goes

'Zug' starts with 'ts' and ends with a 'k' sound: 'tsook'. 'fährt' is from 'abfahren' (to depart); its 'ä' sounds like the 'ai' in 'air'.

Example

Der Zug fährt nach Berlin.

The train goes to Berlin.

Words in this phrase

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.

Zug

[tsook]

train

A railway vehicle for passenger or freight transport.

Example

Wann fährt der Zug ab?

When does the train leave?

fährt

[fairt]

departs (with 'ab')

Form of 'fahren'; with the separable prefix 'ab' it means to leave or depart.

Example

Der Bus fährt gleich ab.

The bus is leaving soon.

um neun Uhr ab.

oom noyn oor ahp

at nine o'clock (departs)

'ab' is the separable prefix of 'abfahren' and goes to the end of the sentence. Say 'ab' with a final 'p' sound: 'ap'.

Example

Wir fahren um neun Uhr ab.

We leave at nine o'clock.

Words in this phrase

[oom]

Used with clock times to say when something happens.

Example

In „Um zehn Uhr“ zeigt „Um“ eine Uhrzeit an.

In “At ten o’clock,” “Um” indicates a clock time.

neun

[noyn]

Nine

Referring to the number nine, following eight.

Example

Ich habe um neun Uhr einen Termin.

I have an appointment at nine o'clock.

Uhr

[oor]

o'clock

Used when telling the time.

Example

Zehn Uhr ist in diesem Hotel eigentlich Ruhezeit.

Ten o'clock is normally quiet time in this hotel.

[ahp]

off / away (separable prefix of 'abfahren')

Separable prefix moved to the end; together with 'fahren' it means to depart.

Example

Wann fährt das Schiff ab?

When does the ship depart?

Guides for German learners

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