01
die Seefahrt
seafaring
Travel by ships on the sea as a whole field, including navigation, trade, and transport.
example
Die Erfindung des Kompasses revolutionierte die Seefahrt.
The invention of the compass revolutionized seafaring.
die Seefahrt
seafaring / sea voyage
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'See' (sea) and 'Fahrt' (journey/trip). So it literally describes a journey on the sea.
EXAMPLE
Die moderne Seefahrt ist ohne Satellitennavigation kaum denkbar.
Modern seafaring is hardly imaginable without satellite navigation.
Fixed expression
An important fixed expression is 'zur See fahren' (to go to sea). It means to work as a sailor or to begin a career in shipping/seafaring.
EXAMPLE
Schon als junger Mann wollte er zur See fahren.
Even as a young man, he wanted to go to sea.
Context clue
When a single journey is meant, 'Seefahrt' (sea voyage) is often used with an indefinite article ('eine') and an adjective. The general meaning, by contrast, often appears without an article or with the definite article in general statements.
EXAMPLE
Es war eine lange und gefährliche Seefahrt.
It was a long and dangerous sea voyage.
Typical collocations
When a concrete journey is meant, the verb 'unternehmen' (to undertake) or 'machen' (to make/do) is often used. Typical adjectives are 'lang' (long), 'kurz' (short), 'stürmisch' (stormy), or 'ruhig' (calm).
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr wollen wir eine Seefahrt durch die Karibik unternehmen.
Next year we want to take a sea voyage through the Caribbean.
Compare with
Seefahrt vs Kreuzfahrt
cruise
'Kreuzfahrt' and 'Seefahrt' both have to do with ships and the sea. However, a 'Kreuzfahrt' is a vacation trip on a large ship during which you visit several places. 'Seefahrt' is much more general: the word can mean the whole field of travel by sea, for example trade, transport, and navigation. It can also mean a single journey across the sea. The words can be confused because a cruise is also a trip on the sea. When it is about a vacation and a cruise ship, 'Kreuzfahrt' is more precise. When it is generally about ships, work, or traveling by sea, 'Seefahrt' fits better.
Seefahrt
Wegen seiner Arbeit hat er viel über die Seefahrt gelernt.
Because of his job, he has learned a lot about seafaring.
Kreuzfahrt
Timo erzählt im Bus von seiner Kreuzfahrt nach Norwegen.
On the bus, Timo talks about his cruise to Norway.
In real life
Loading video examples...