01
der Bordstein
curb
The raised edge made of stone or concrete that separates the sidewalk from the roadway.
example
Pass auf, dass du mit dem Reifen nicht gegen den Bordstein fährst.
Be careful not to drive the tire against the curb.
der Bordstein
curb
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word 'Bordstein' (curb) is made up of 'Bord' (edge, border) and 'Stein' (stone). So it literally describes the stone that forms an edge.
EXAMPLE
Der Bordstein trennt den Gehweg von der Straße.
The curb separates the sidewalk from the street.
Correct preposition
Pay attention to the preposition and case: you drive 'gegen den Bordstein' (against the curb; accusative), park 'am Bordstein' (at the curb; dative), or step down 'vom Bordstein' (from the curb; dative).
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, fahr nicht zu nah an den Bordstein!
Careful, don't drive too close to the curb!
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'ein hoher/niedriger Bordstein' (a high/low curb) or 'ein abgesenkter Bordstein' (a lowered curb) for wheelchairs and strollers. A typical verb is 'stolpern über' (to trip over).
EXAMPLE
An der Kreuzung gibt es einen abgesenkten Bordstein für Kinderwagen.
At the intersection, there is a lowered curb for strollers.
Compare with
Bordstein vs Gehweg
sidewalk
'der Gehweg' and 'der Bordstein' both belong to the street, but they do not mean the same thing. The Gehweg is the area where pedestrians walk. The Bordstein is only the raised edge between the sidewalk and the roadway. Learners may confuse the words because they are right next to each other. If you mean where people walk, you say 'Gehweg'. If you mean the edge that you can step over or where a car stops, you say 'Bordstein'.
Bordstein
Das Kind setzt sich auf den Bordstein und wartet auf seine Mutter.
The child sits down on the curb and waits for his mother.
Gehweg
Nach dem Regen ist der Gehweg vor dem Haus sehr glatt.
After the rain, the sidewalk in front of the house is very slippery.
In real life
Loading video examples...