ich reise
/ɪç ˈʁaɪ̯zə/word by word
To say "I am traveling" in German, you use ich reise.
This phrase is used to say that you are going on a trip or visiting other places.
Which one should you use?
While ich reise is a general statement about the activity of traveling, ich bin unterwegs is a more common way to say I am on my way or I am out and about in a more immediate sense. The phrase ich bin auf Reisen is a common alternative that conveys the state of being in the middle of a trip or tour.
How does it change in a sentence?
German does not have a continuous aspect, so the simple present ich reise is used to express both "I travel" and "I am traveling".
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç ˈʁaɪ̯zə/
Did you know?
- The verb reisen is distinct from fahren, which is used for traveling by vehicle. If you are traveling by car or train, a German speaker will almost always use ich fahre rather than ich reise.
- The word ich is an ancient relative of the English word 'I'. Both words can be traced back to the same Proto-Indo-European root '*eǵh₂óm'.
- The phrase auf die Reise gehen can imply more than just a trip. It is sometimes used to describe a definitive transition in life or a significant new beginning.
Examples in context
- Ich reise im Sommer nach Italien.I am traveling to Italy in the summer.
- Ich reise allein durch Europa.I am traveling alone through Europe.
- Ich reise oft geschäftlich.I travel frequently for business.
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are talking about their upcoming holiday plans.
- JulianIch reise nächsten Monat nach Spanien.I am traveling to Spain next month.
- HannahDas klingt toll, Julian!That sounds great, Julian!
- JulianWillst du auch verreisen?Do you want to go on a trip too?
- HannahNein, ich bleibe zu Hause.No, I am staying at home.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ich, Reise) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
