Sprach-Guide
Unterwegs in Österreich
Transport
Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel
| die "Öffis" | public (means of) transport |
| Straßenbahn | tram |
| U-Bahn | underground |
| Linienbus | bus |
| Schnellbahn, Zug | train |
| "Pendler" (Zug) | stopping train |
| Pendler (Person) | commuter |
| in die Arbeit pendeln | to commute to work |
| Reisebus | coach |
| Waggon | carriage |
| Schlafwagen | sleeping car |
| Speisewagen | dining car |
| Fahrplan | timetable |
| ein-(aus)steigen | to get on (off) at ... |
| umsteigen | to change at (Karlsplatz) to (the U2) |
| Haltestelle | train/underground station but bus/tram stop |
| Bahnsteig | platform |
Gebäude und Orte
| commercial centre | area with many banks and offices |
| shopping centre / mall | shops indoors or outdoors |
| (multi-storey / underground) car park | for many cars (Parkhaus / Parkgarage) |
| high-rise buildings | buildings with many floors |
| suburbs | outskirts of town |
Wegbeschreibungen erhalten und geben
| Asking for directions | Excuse me, how do I get to ...? |
| What's the quickest way of getting to ...? | |
| Getting information | Will you be coming by car or by train? |
| Which hotel are you staying at? | |
| Giving information | We're not far from ... / We're quite close to ... |
| It's about a mile / kilometre / two blocks from ... | |
| We're opposite / next to / in front of / across the road from / round the corner from the supermarket. | |
| Giving directions | Come off the motorway / highway at Junction / Exit 12. |
| It's signposted 'St. Pölten Ost'. | |
| Follow the signs to ... | |
| There's a one-way system in the centre of town. | |
| Take the A22 to 'Stockerau Ost'. | |
| Go straight on/left/right at the lights/at the roundabout /at the junction of ... and ... | |
| Go past the supermarket/filling station. | |
| You'll come to / see ... | |
| It's the first turning on the right after the bank / pharmacy. |
Use landmarks to help
Landmarks are points of reference and help the other person understand where to find you or your office.
- There's a large sign / a crossroads ...
- On your left you'll see an industrial centre / a hospital / the police station.
- Just after the shopping centre / mall.
- Go past the petrol station / the garage.
Auf der Straße
| Ampel | traffic lights |
| Fußgänger | pedestrian |
| Gehsteig | pavement |
| Kreisverkehr | roundabout |
| Kreuzung | (a) crossroads / junction |
| T-Kreuzung | T-junction |
| Kurve | bend |
| Lastwagen | lorry (US truck) |
| pendeln | to commute to work |
| Radarfalle | speed camera |
| Radfahrer | cyclist |
| Randstein | kerb |
| Stau | traffic jam / congestion |
| Stoßverkehr | rush hour |
| Verkehrszeichen | road sign |
| verstopfte Straßen | congested roads |
| Zebrastreifen | pedestrian crossing |
Sightseeing in Wien
Names and translations and / or explanations
| Schloss Schönbrunn | Schönbrunn Palace (baroque, opulent interior) |
| Tiergarten Schönbrunn | Schönbrunn Zoo |
| Prater | public park, traditional amusement park |
| Riesenrad | Giant Ferris Wheel |
| Stephansdom | St Stephen's Cathedral |
| Pummerin | Austria's largest and heaviest church bell |
| Hofburg | palace, used to be the residence of the emperor and family; today it houses the federal president's office |
| Spanische Hofreitschule | Spanish Riding School |
| Wiener Rathaus | Vienna City Hall |
| 1. Bezirk | First District |
| Staatsoper | State Opera House |
| Graben, Kärntner Straße | two exclusive shopping streets and pedestrian zones, city centre |
| Kaiserliche Schatzkammer | Imperial Treasury |
| Schloss Belvedere | Belvedere Palace, with art collection (Klimt) |
| MuseumsQuartier | baroque complex housing art museums |
| Albertina | Habsburg state rooms with art collections |
| Naturhistorisches Museum | Museum of Natural History |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum | Museum of the History of Art |
| Heeresgeschichtliches Museum | Museum of Military History |
| Technisches Museum | Museum of Technology |
| Haus des Meeres | Aqua Terra Zoo |
| Nationalbibliothek | National Library |
| Musikverein | concert hall; venue of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert |
Die österreichische Verwaltung
Allgemeine Informationen
Bund | The federal state has certain tasks, such as: |
Bundesgesetzgebung | federal legislation, |
bestimmte Politiken (z.B. Verteidigungspolitik) | state policies (e.g. defence policy), and |
allgemeine Rechtssprechung | ordinary jurisdiction. |
The State is subdivided into | |
Bundesländer | federalprovinces with certain legislative and executive powers, headed by a |
Landeshauptmann, -frau | provincial governor, and then into |
Verwaltungsbezirke | administrative districts and |
Gemeinden | municipalities, which are independent administrative bodies and can issue |
Verordnungen Verfassung | regulations within their scope of statutory power (protected by the constitution). |
Kommunalbehörden | Provinces and municipalities are local or regional authorities represented by |
Allgemeine Vertretungskörper | general representation bodies, such as the |
| Nationalrat | National Assembly, the |
| Landtag | provincial parliament, the |
| Gemeinde(rat) | municipal council, and the |
| Bezirksvertretung | district council (Vienna only) |
Bundesländer
| Wien | Vienna |
| Burgenland | Burgenland |
| Niederösterreich | Lower Austria |
| Oberösterreich | Upper Austria |
| Salzburg | Salzburg |
| Tirol | Tyrol |
| Steiermark | Styria |
| Kärnten | Carinthia |
| Vorarlberg | Vorarlberg |
Bundesministerien (offizielle Namen)
| Bundeskanzleramt | Federal Chancellery |
BM für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und Konsumentenschutz | Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection |
BM für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung | Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research |
BM für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort | Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs |
BM für Europa, Integration und Äußeres | Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs |
BM für Finanzen | Federal Ministry of Finance |
BM für Inneres | Federal Ministry of the Interior |
BM für Landesverteidigung | Federal Ministry of Defence |
BM für Nachhaltigkeit und Tourismus | Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism |
BM für öffentlichen Dienst und Sport | Federal Ministry for the Civil Service and Sports |
BM für Verfassung, Reformen, Deregulierung und Justiz | Federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice |
BM für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie | Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology |
Example of "from A to B":
You can walk to Museumsquartier, it’s not far. There you take underground line U2 to Schottentor and change to tram line 43. It’s only two stops from there.
Culture tip: driving?
“Drive” means personally controlling a vehicle, so unless you are actually a bus driver, you don’t say “I drive with the bus” but “I go by / take the bus”!
Culture tips: the right direction
If you´re giving directions over the phone, remember to speak slowly to allow the other person to write things down. Check that the other person has understood.
If you´re speaking face-to-face with someone, use your hands to show left, right, or straight on.
Use “please” when you ask someone to give you directions. It´s polite and will normally get you what you want!