roadway
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roadway
The part of a road intended for traffic by vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Wegen eines Unfalls ist die rechte Fahrbahn komplett gesperrt.
Because of an accident, the right lane is completely closed.
'Fahrbahn' is a compound noun made up of 'fahren' (to drive / to travel) and 'die Bahn' (track / path). It literally means a 'track' or path on which vehicles 'fahren' (drive).
Bitte bleiben Sie mit Ihrem Fahrzeug auf der rechten Fahrbahn.
Please keep your vehicle on the right-hand roadway.
Common adjectives used in connection with 'Fahrbahn' (roadway) are 'nass' (wet), 'glatt' (slippery), 'trocken' (dry), or 'gesperrt' (closed). Typical verbs are 'überqueren' (to cross), 'blockieren' (to block), or 'von der Fahrbahn abkommen' (to leave the roadway).
Bei nasser Fahrbahn sollten Sie langsamer fahren.
On a wet roadway, you should drive more slowly.
This word is used almost exclusively in the context of road traffic. You often hear or read it in traffic reports, police warnings, or driving school.
Achtung, Personen auf der Fahrbahn auf der A5 in Richtung Süden!
Attention, people on the roadway on the A5 heading south!
sidewalk
'die Fahrbahn' and 'der Gehweg' are both parts of the road, but they are for different road users. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles drive on the 'Fahrbahn'. Pedestrians walk on the 'Gehweg'. The words can be confused because they are right next to each other and both are parts of a street. A practical way to remember this is: 'Fahrbahn' comes from 'fahren' (to drive / ride), and 'Gehweg' comes from 'gehen' (to walk). That is why, as a pedestrian, you should normally stay on the sidewalk and not walk on the roadway.
Nach dem Unfall lagen Glasscherben auf der Fahrbahn.
After the accident, there were shards of glass on the roadway.
Bitte geh auf dem Gehweg, denn die Straße ist heute sehr voll.
Please walk on the sidewalk, because the road is very busy today.