die Ausfahrt
exit
A road or route by which you leave a highway, property, or parking lot.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen die nächste Ausfahrt nehmen, um nach Hause zu kommen.
We have to take the next exit to get home.
die Ausfahrt
exit / drive
die Ausfahrt, die Ausfahrten
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Meanings
die Ausfahrt
exit
The physical opening or gate through which vehicles leave a building or site.
EXAMPLE
Bitte halten Sie die Ausfahrt frei, damit die Anwohner herausfahren können.
Please keep the exit clear so the residents can drive out.
die Ausfahrt
drive / outing
A short trip or excursion by vehicle, often for pleasure.
EXAMPLE
Am Sonntag haben wir eine schöne Ausfahrt mit dem Motorrad gemacht.
On Sunday, we went for a nice motorcycle ride.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Ausfahrt, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Ausfahrten |
| genitive | der Ausfahrt |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Ausfahrt | die Ausfahrten |
| accusative | die Ausfahrt | die Ausfahrten |
| dative | der Ausfahrt | den Ausfahrten |
| genitive | der Ausfahrt | der Ausfahrten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word composition
'Ausfahrt' (exit / drive) is made up of the preposition 'aus' (out of) and the noun 'Fahrt' (journey/drive). Its literal meaning is 'driving out', which explains all the meanings of the word.
EXAMPLE
Die Ausfahrt aus dem Parkhaus war blockiert.
The exit from the parking garage was blocked.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from context: in connection with 'Autobahn' (highway), it means an exit. With 'Parkhaus' (parking garage) or 'Grundstück' (property), it means the physical exit. With 'Sonntag' (Sunday) or 'schönes Wetter' (nice weather), it means a short outing.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen die Ausfahrt „Flughafen“ nehmen.
We have to take the 'Airport' exit.
Typical verbs (highway)
In the context of highways, 'Ausfahrt' (exit) is usually used with the verbs 'nehmen' (to take) or 'verpassen' (to miss).
EXAMPLE
Oh nein, ich glaube, wir haben die richtige Ausfahrt verpasst.
Oh no, I think we missed the right exit.
Typical verbs (property)
When referring to the physical exit of a site, typical verbs are 'freihalten' (to keep clear), 'blockieren' (to block), or 'zuparken' (to block by parking).
EXAMPLE
Ein Lieferwagen blockiert die gesamte Ausfahrt.
A delivery van is blocking the entire exit.
Typical verbs (outing)
When a short outing is meant, the verb 'machen' (to make/do) is almost always used, or less commonly 'unternehmen' (to undertake).
EXAMPLE
Lass uns am Wochenende eine Ausfahrt mit dem Fahrrad machen.
Let's go for a bike ride this weekend.
Compare with
Ausfahrt vs Tour
tour
A „Tour“ can refer to any planned journey or outing with several stops. An „Ausfahrt“ is more specific: it is usually a short drive in a vehicle, often for pleasure. Use „Tour“ for the route and its progress, and „Ausfahrt“ for setting off together or going for a recreational drive.
Ausfahrt
Am Sonntag machen wir mit unseren Motorrädern eine kurze Ausfahrt zum See.
On Sunday, we are taking our motorcycles on a short ride to the lake.
Tour
Unsere Motorradtour führt über mehrere Pässe und dauert den ganzen Tag.
Our motorcycle tour crosses several mountain passes and lasts all day.
In real life
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