01
der Bus
bus
A large public means of transport on wheels that carries many people along a fixed route.
example
Nimmst du den Bus oder die U-Bahn zur Arbeit?
Do you take the bus or the subway to work?
der Bus
bus
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical verbs
In everyday language, 'der Bus' (the bus) is combined with certain verbs you should know: you 'fährt mit dem Bus' (travel by bus), 'nimmt den Bus' (take the bus), 'wartet auf den Bus' (wait for the bus), or 'steigt in den Bus ein' (get on the bus).
EXAMPLE
Ich nehme jeden Morgen den Bus zur Universität.
I take the bus to the university every morning.
Context clue
You can recognize the technical meaning from the context. When you read words like 'Computer', 'Daten' (data), 'System', 'Prozessor' (processor), or 'Geschwindigkeit' (speed), it almost always means the data bus and not the vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Ein schneller System-Bus ist wichtig für die Leistung des Computers.
A fast system bus is important for the computer's performance.
Register: technical language
The meaning as part of a computer belongs to the technical language of information technology (IT). In normal everyday life, you will only hear this meaning when the topic is computer technology.
EXAMPLE
Der Techniker erklärte, dass der Fehler am USB-Bus lag.
The technician explained that the error was in the USB bus.
Compare with
Bus vs Van
van
'der Van' and 'der Bus' are both vehicles in which several people can ride. A 'Van', however, is usually a larger car for a family, a group, or also for smaller transports. A 'Bus' is much larger and often runs as public transport on a fixed route. The words can be confused because both offer more space than a normal car. For city traffic, stops, and timetables, you say 'Bus'. For a private or rented vehicle for a few people, 'Van' fits better.
Bus
Der Bus zur Innenstadt hält direkt vor dem Bahnhof.
The bus to the city center stops right in front of the train station.
Van
Für den Ausflug mietet Greta einen Van, damit alle Taschen hineinpassen.
Greta rents a van for the trip so that all the bags will fit inside.
In real life
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