Where To (Wohin) Is a German Lesson in Going Places

When you want to get around in a German-speaking country, youll need to know some basic travel vocabulary. In this lesson, youll learn the German names for common places like the bank, hotel, and school. Youll also find out how to ask and respond to the question, Where are you going? Its a very useful lesson for travelers and one that is relatively easy because you can practice as you go places around your own town. Pair this lesson with one  that  teaches you how to ask for directions  and youll be on your way. Where To? (Wohin?) Before we dive into the vocabulary, there are a few important reminders to take care of. First of all, when someone  asks you  Wohin?  in German, theyre asking Where to?   Then, there is the little matter of  in  (meaning in)  versus zu (meaning to). What is the difference between saying  Ich gehe  ins  Kino and saying  Ich gehe  zum  Kino?  While both state that I am going to the movies, there is a distinction. Using  ins Kino  implies that you are going inside (to see a movie).Using  zum Kino  implies you are going to that location (to meet someone out front, etc.). Places to Go in Town There are many common places to go in town (in der Stadt). You will find many of those in this first vocabulary list and you might even notice many similarities to the English translations. Both the basic word and the to phrase are given for each location. For example,  die Bà ¤ckerei  is  the bakery. When you want to say to the bakery, its  zur  Bà ¤ckerei  (the short form of  zu  der Bà ¤ckerei).   Some of the phrases may have more than one way to say to. In these instances, the  most common way is used in the chart. You will also want to keep the  following contractions in mind:   ins  Ã‚  in daszum  Ã‚  zu  demzur  Ã‚  zu  der Englisch Deutsch bakeryto the bakery die Bà ¤ckereizur Bà ¤ckerei bankto the bank die Bankzur Bank bar/pubto the bar/pub die Kneipein die Kneipe butcherto the butcher der Fleischer/der Metzgerzum Fleischer/zum Metzger hotelto the hotel das Hotelzum Hotel market/fleamarketto the market der Markt/der Flohmarktzum Markt/zum Flohmarkt cinemato the movies/cinema das Kinoins/zum Kino the post officeto the post office die Postzur Post restaurantto the restaurant das Restaurantins/zum Restaurant to a/the Chinese restaurant zum Chinesen to an/the Italian restaurant zum Italiener to a/the Greek restaurant zum Griechen schoolto school die Schulezur Schule the shopping centerto the shopping center das Einkaufszentrumzum Einkaufszentrum the traffic light/signal(up) to the signal die Ampelbis zur Ampel the train stationto the station der Bahnhofzum Bahnhof workto work die Arbeit zur Arbeit the youth hostelto the youth hostel die Jugendherbergein die Jugendherberge Going Elsewhere (Anderswo) There are times when you will want to go somewhere else, so a quick study of other common places is a good idea as well. Englisch Deutsch the laketo the lake der Seean den See the seato the sea die See/das Meerans Meer the toilet/restroomto the toilet/restroom die Toilette/das Klo/das WCzur Toilette/zum Klo/zum WC Questions and Answers (Fragen und Antworten) Next, well study a few sample questions and answers related to asking and giving directions. This is an introduction to German grammar as well. Whats most important is to learn the patterns for the various articles (der/die/das) for each gender (masculine/feminine/neuter). Keep in mind that  if you are  walking, you will use  gehen. If you are  driving, use  fahren. Englisch Deutsch Where are you going? (driving/traveling) Wohin fahren Sie? / Wohin fà ¤hrst du? I'm going to the lake tomorrow. Ich fahre morgen an den See. I'm going to Dresden tomorrow. Ich fahre morgen nach Dresden. How do I get......to the bank?...to the hotel?...to the post office? Wie komme ich......zur Bank?..zum Hotel?..zur Post? Go two blocks (streets) and then right. Gehen Sie zwei Straßen und dann rechts. Drive down/along this street. Fahren Sie diese Straße entlang. Go up to the traffic light and then left. Gehen Sie bis zur Ampel und dann links. Extra Expressions (Extra-Ausdrà ¼cke) In your travels, you will also find these phrases to be very useful. They tell you how to get where youre going and can be used within some of the answers used above. Englisch Deutsch past the church an der Kirche vorbei past the cinema am Kino vorbei right/left at the traffic light rechts/links an der Ampel at the market square am Marktplatz at the corner an der Ecke the next street die nà ¤chste Straße across/over the street à ¼ber die Straße across the market square à ¼ber den Marktplatz in front of the train station vor dem Bahnhof in front of the church vor der Kirche