zebra crossing / crosswalk
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zebra crossing / crosswalk
A pedestrian crossing marked by broad white stripes on the road. Vehicles usually have to stop here to allow pedestrians to cross the street.
Kinder sollten lernen, die Straße nur am Zebrastreifen zu überqueren.
Children should learn to cross the street only at the zebra crossing.
The word is made up of 'Zebra' (zebra) and 'Streifen' (stripes). The name comes from the fact that the white markings on the dark road are reminiscent of a zebra's striped coat.
Das Kind wartete brav am Zebrastreifen, bis die Ampel grün wurde.
The child waited patiently at the zebra crossing until the traffic light turned green.
While 'Zebrastreifen' (zebra crossing / crosswalk) is common in Germany, the word 'Schutzweg' is often used in Austria, and 'Fussgängerstreifen' in Switzerland.
In Wien müssen Autofahrer vor einem Schutzweg besonders aufmerksam sein.
In Vienna, drivers have to be especially attentive before a pedestrian crossing.
To describe a position or action at the zebra crossing, German uses the preposition 'am'. When expressing movement across it, 'über' is common.
Bitte warte am Zebrastreifen, bis die Autos anhalten.
Please wait at the zebra crossing until the cars stop.
In connection with zebra crossings, you often hear that pedestrians 'Vorfahrt haben' (have right of way) or 'Vortritt haben' (have priority). Drivers have to 'anhalten' (stop) or 'bremsen' (brake).
An diesem Zebrastreifen haben Fußgänger immer Vorrang.
At this zebra crossing, pedestrians always have priority.
transition / crossing
'der Übergang' and 'der Zebrastreifen' can both refer to a place where pedestrians cross a road. 'Übergang' is more general here. There can be different kinds of places for crossing, for example on roads or railway tracks. 'Zebrastreifen' is a specific type of pedestrian crossing with broad white stripes on the road. The words can be confused because a Zebrastreifen is also an Übergang. But not every Übergang is a Zebrastreifen. If you mean the white stripes, 'Zebrastreifen' is more precise.
Am Zebrastreifen hält das Auto an, damit die Fußgänger gehen können.
At the zebra crossing, the car stops so that the pedestrians can cross.
Die Kinder sollen die Straße nur am sicheren Übergang überqueren.
The children should cross the road only at the safe crossing.