driveway / entry
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driveway
A path or access road that vehicles can use to drive onto a property, into a garage, or into a parking lot.
Bitte parken Sie nicht direkt vor unserer Einfahrt.
Please do not park directly in front of our driveway.
'Die Einfahrt' (the driveway/entry) is the noun form of the separable verb 'einfahren' (to drive in/enter). It combines the preposition 'ein' (in/into) with the verb 'fahren' (to drive/travel), and thus describes driving in or the place for doing so.
Das Auto fuhr langsam in die Einfahrt.
The car slowly drove into the driveway.
To describe an access road or driveway, the preposition 'in' is often used. 'In die Einfahrt fahren' (to drive into the driveway) describes movement, while 'in der Einfahrt stehen' (to be standing in the driveway) describes location. A very typical request is 'Bitte die Einfahrt freihalten!' (Please keep the driveway clear!).
Ein fremdes Auto blockiert unsere Einfahrt.
A stranger's car is blocking our driveway.
In connection with a driveway or access road, verbs such as 'blockieren' (to block), 'parken' (to park), or 'freihalten' (to keep clear) are very common.
Es ist verboten, in einer Feuerwehreinfahrt zu parken.
It is forbidden to park in a fire department access driveway.
When the 'Einfahrt' (entry/arrival) of a means of transport is being discussed, the sentence often contains words like 'Zug' (train), 'Schiff' (ship), 'U-Bahn' (subway), or places like 'Bahnhof' (station) and 'Hafen' (harbor).
Die Einfahrt des Schiffes in den Hafen war ein beeindruckendes Schauspiel.
The ship's entry into the harbor was an impressive sight.
The meaning 'Schacht' (shaft) or 'Stollen' (tunnel/gallery) is technical language from mining. You can recognize it from words like 'Bergwerk' (mine), 'Grube' (pit/mine), 'Stollen' (tunnel/gallery), or 'Bergleute' (miners).
Die Einfahrt in das Bergwerk ist nur mit Schutzkleidung gestattet.
Entry into the mine is permitted only with protective clothing.
access / entrance
'der Zugang' and 'die Einfahrt' can both mean a place through which you get onto a property or to a location. 'Zugang' is more general and can be used for people, vehicles, or ways into buildings. 'Einfahrt' fits especially when vehicles drive in, for example into a parking lot, into a garage, or onto a property. The words can be confused when a path is used by both people and cars. When it is clearly about cars or other vehicles, 'Einfahrt' usually sounds more precise.
Ein Lieferwagen blockiert die Einfahrt zur Garage.
A delivery van is blocking the driveway to the garage.
Am Morgen ist der Zugang zum Hinterhof wegen Bauarbeiten gesperrt.
In the morning, access to the back courtyard is closed because of construction work.