GERMAN DICTIONARY

die Abfahrt

departure, setting off

/diː ˈapfaːɐ̯t/

The departure of a means of transport or the scheduled time when it leaves.

Translations

Also: setting off

Die Abfahrt des Zuges verzögerte sich wegen eines technischen Problems.NominativSing.The train's departure was delayed due to a technical problem.
Der Fahrgast erwartete die Abfahrt des Zuges sehnsüchtig.AkkusativSing.The passenger eagerly awaited the train's departure.
Kurz vor der Abfahrt gab der Zugführer das Signal zur Abfahrt.DativSing.Shortly before departure, the train driver gave the signal to depart.
Der Zeitpunkt der Abfahrt wurde kurzfristig geändert.GenitivSing.The departure time was changed at short notice.
Die Abfahrten der Züge erfolgten heute planmäßig.NominativPlur.The trains departed according to schedule today.
Die Reisenden beobachteten die Abfahrten auf der Anzeigetafel.AkkusativPlur.The travelers watched the departures on the display board.
Bei den Abfahrten der Busse kam es zu Verspätungen.DativPlur.The bus departures were delayed.
Die genauen Zeiten der Abfahrten standen im Fahrplan.GenitivPlur.The exact departure times were listed in the timetable.

Collocationdie Abfahrt planen
One specifies when a means of transport is supposed to leave.
Verb constructiondie Abfahrt verpassen + Akkusativ
You arrive too late and therefore can no longer travel on the means of transport.
Sentence patternWann ist die Abfahrt?
This question asks about the scheduled time when a means of transport leaves.
Prepositional constructionvor der Abfahrtvor + Dativ
The preposition “vor” with the dative indicates a point in time or period that falls before Abfahrt.
Collocationpünktliche Abfahrt
The adjective emphasizes that the means of transport leaves at the scheduled time.
Adjective combinationverspätete Abfahrt
The adjective indicates that the means of transport leaves later than scheduled.
Verb constructioneine Abfahrt ankündigen + Akkusativ
“Ankündigen” here means informing people in advance when a means of transport will leave or that it will leave.
Sentence patternDie Abfahrt erfolgt pünktlich.
The concise, factual phrasing reports that the means of transport leaves at the scheduled time.

Narrower termZugabfahrt
Zugabfahrt is a specific form of general Abfahrt, limited to trains.
Related termAbflug
Abfahrt refers to the start of a vehicle’s journey or its scheduled time of departure; in air travel, the corresponding term is Abflug.
Semantically relatedFahrplan — timetable
Fahrplan lists the scheduled Abfahrten of a means of transport along with their times.
Easily confused withAusfahrt
Abfahrt refers to the start or time of a journey; the similar-sounding Ausfahrt usually means leaving a road or an area.
Near-synonymAbreise
Abfahrt usually refers to a vehicle setting off, whereas Abreise refers to a person or group leaving; the words are therefore only partially interchangeable.
Near-synonymAufbruch
Aufbruch emphasizes the beginning of leaving or a determined movement, whereas Abfahrt refers especially to setting off and the scheduled departure time.
AntonymAnkunft — arrival
Abfahrt and Ankunft mark opposite points in time during a journey: the beginning of the trip and arrival at the destination.
Narrower termBusabfahrt
Busabfahrt is a specific form of general Abfahrt, limited to buses.