BahnCard
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BahnCard
A discount card from Deutsche Bahn that allows the holder to buy train tickets at a reduced price for a certain period of time.
Wenn du oft mit dem Zug fährst, lohnt sich eine Bahncard schnell.
If you often travel by train, a BahnCard quickly pays off.
The word is made up of 'Bahn' and 'Card'. 'Bahn' is the short form for 'Deutsche Bahn', Germany's largest railway company. 'Card' is an English loanword for 'Karte' (card).
Ich habe meine Bahncard zu Hause vergessen.
I forgot my BahnCard at home.
There are typical expressions connected with the BahnCard. You can 'haben' (have), 'kaufen' (buy), or 'kündigen' (cancel) a BahnCard. You also often hear the sentence: 'Eine Bahncard lohnt sich.' (A BahnCard is worth it.)
Ich muss meine Bahncard bald kündigen, sonst verlängert sie sich automatisch.
I have to cancel my BahnCard soon, otherwise it will renew automatically.
To express that you are using the card's discount, the preposition 'mit' is used. This indicates that the price is reduced by the card.
Mit der Bahncard kostet die Fahrt nur die Hälfte.
With the BahnCard, the trip costs only half as much.
ticket
'Fahrkarte' and 'Bahncard' both have to do with train travel, but they are not the same thing. A 'Fahrkarte' is authorization for a specific journey or for a certain period of time. It allows you to travel. A 'Bahncard', on the other hand, is a discount card from Deutsche Bahn. It makes tickets cheaper, but normally does not replace them. Learners may confuse the words because both cards are used in rail travel. Memory aid: the Bahncard helps you save money; the Fahrkarte allows you to travel.
Er kauft oft günstigere Zugtickets, weil er eine Bahncard hat.
He often buys cheaper train tickets because he has a BahnCard.
Vor der Kontrolle sucht Frau Hoffmann schnell ihre Fahrkarte in der Tasche.
Before the inspection, Mrs. Hoffmann quickly looks for her ticket in her bag.