border crossing
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border crossing
An officially designated place where people and goods are allowed to cross a national border. Passport and customs checks usually take place at these locations.
Wegen des hohen Verkehrsaufkommens mussten wir am Grenzübergang zwei Stunden warten.
Because of the heavy traffic, we had to wait two hours at the border crossing.
The word is made up of 'die Grenze' (the border) and 'der Übergang' (the crossing/passage). The 'n' in between is a linking n that connects the two words. It literally means 'a crossing over the border'.
Der nächste Grenzübergang ist nur 20 Kilometer entfernt.
The nearest border crossing is only 20 kilometers away.
The preposition depends on the situation: you wait 'am Grenzübergang' (at the border crossing: location, dative), you drive 'zum Grenzübergang' (to the border crossing: direction, dative), and you drive 'über den Grenzübergang' (via/across the border crossing: movement, accusative).
Wir stehen schon eine Stunde am Grenzübergang im Stau.
We have already been stuck in traffic at the border crossing for an hour.
Certain actions often take place at a border crossing. Typical verbs are 'kontrollieren' (to check/inspect), 'passieren' (to pass through), 'überqueren' (to cross), or 'schließen' (to close).
Die Polizei kontrolliert jedes Auto am Grenzübergang.
The police check every car at the border crossing.
border / limit
'die Grenze' and 'der Grenzübergang' both have to do with the separation between countries or areas. 'Die Grenze' is the line itself, meaning the political or geographic separation. 'Der Grenzübergang' is a specific place on this line where you are officially allowed to drive or walk across. The words can be confused because you cross a border at a border crossing. In practical terms: the border separates two countries; the border crossing is the place where you pass through.
Am Grenzübergang mussten alle Fahrer ihre Pässe zeigen.
At the border crossing, all drivers had to show their passports.
Zwischen Deutschland und Polen verläuft eine lange Grenze.
A long border runs between Germany and Poland.