passage / through traffic
Loading your saved state.
passage
A place, route, or opening that one can drive through, for example a gate, a tunnel, or a narrow alley.
Die Durchfahrt zum Hinterhof ist für große Lieferwagen zu niedrig.
The passage to the back courtyard is too low for large delivery vans.
The word is made up of the preposition 'durch' (through) and the noun 'die Fahrt' (the drive/trip). So it literally describes a 'drive through' something.
Die schmale Durchfahrt war eine Herausforderung für den Fahrer.
The narrow passage was a challenge for the driver.
You can often recognize the two meanings from context. If it is about size (e.g. 'eng' (narrow), 'breit' (wide), 'hoch' (high)), the physical route is meant. If it is about rules (e.g. 'verboten' (forbidden), 'gesperrt' (blocked/closed)), the act of driving through is meant.
Die Durchfahrt ist nur zwei Meter hoch.
The passage is only two meters high.
The expression 'Durchfahrt verboten!' (No through traffic!) is very common and appears on many traffic signs in Germany. It means that you are not allowed to drive through here.
Wir konnten die Straße nicht nehmen, ein Schild sagte „Durchfahrt verboten“.
We couldn't take the street; a sign said 'Durchfahrt verboten' (No through traffic).
passage / round
'Durchgang' and 'Durchfahrt' both describe a place or movement from one side to the other. The most important difference is the type of movement: 'Durchgang' fits walking, that is, people on foot, or generally a passage. 'Durchfahrt' fits driving or riding, for example by car, bus, or bicycle. Learners easily confuse the words because both begin with 'durch' and can refer to an opening. If someone is walking, 'Durchgang' is more natural; if a vehicle drives through, 'Durchfahrt' is more precise.
Die Durchfahrt zur Tiefgarage ist wegen Bauarbeiten gesperrt.
The entrance to the underground garage is closed because of construction work.
Im Park haben wir einen kleinen Durchgang zwischen den Hecken gefunden.
In the park, we found a small passage between the hedges.