German words containing BAHN - What does BAHN mean? Learn German!

Eisenbahn, Autobahn, Seilbahn, or Bahnhof all have BAHN in common. Stephan explains what these compound nouns mean. @loquidity4973

[DavidWood-je]

Hi Stephan, Thank you very much for this video, I found it most informative.
Around 1984, I went to the former DDR 8 times and remember the linguistic bemusement I experienced when I saw "Deutsche Reichsbahn" on their railways. I enjoyed your video very much and learned a lot of facts that I wasn't previously aware of, so I'd describe that linguistic experience as invaluable for me.

I'd say that there is a (possible) rough English equivalent to "Geisterbahn, " which I'd translate a 'ghost-train, ' which is usually one of the rides at at either a static or travelling funfair. However, I'm really not sure whether the ghost-train is still as popular at a funfair these days as it was when I was growing up in the late 60s - early 70s.

MfG,
David Wood.

[AdalbertPtak]

Greetings and Salutations Your Highness.
Good to hear and see you again!

Ah, wer kennt Heute noch diese?
Schlinderbahn
Schlittenbahn
Rutschbahn

[Galenus]

The common notion of "Bahn" is some kind of mostly linear "track from which the vehicle (or other 'thing') moving on it can't (or at least shouldn't) deviate" and by extension "Bahn" doesn't only refer to the track itself but also to the means of transport moving on it.

Eisenbahn = railroad (~iron 'track')
Seilbahn = cablecar (~rope 'track')
Straßenbahn = tram (~street 'track')
Autobahn = ~car 'track'
Kegelbahn = bowling lane (~pin 'track')

[ZulkifliJamil-xs]

Ich fahre mit die Bahn.
Danke schön Dr Schaffrath.
Deutsch ist eine Sprache, die Stärke bedeutet.

[robertyoung]

Informative as even. A "ghost train" is indeed a thing in English.