Spur
/ʃpuːr/feminine
The German word for lane is Spur. Wiktionary also lists Streifen.
Meaning: division of roadway (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spur | /ʃpuːr/ | feminine |
| Streifen | /ˈʃtʁaɪ̯fn̩/ | masculine |
In German, the word for a lane refers to a division of a roadway.
Which one should you use?
Spur is the standard term for a lane on a highway or a specific track of travel. The masculine noun Streifen can also mean lanes or strips.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spur is a feminine noun, and its plural is Spuren. Streifen is a masculine noun, and its plural form remains Streifen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃpuːr/
Did you know?
- The German word Spur for lane shares a common ancestor with the English word 'spoor', which refers to the track or trail left by an animal.
- The term Spur is also used in music and audio production to refer to a 'track' on a recording.
- While Streifen can mean a lane, it is more commonly used to describe a thin strip or a patrol, such as a police 'Streife'.
Examples in context
- Die mittlere Spur teilt sich gleich in zwei Spuren.The middle lane is about to split into two lanes.This sentence is useful for seeing how the middle lane splits into two Spur.Tatoeba #13442071 by Waldelfe, translation #13442049 by frpzzd
- Auf einer Spur nach der anderen stauen sich die Autos.Lane after lane of motorway is choked with cars.This sentence shows the use of Spur in the context of lane after lane on a motorway.Tatoeba #11569293 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10700643 by sundown
- Ein liegengebliebener Wagen behindert den Verkehr auf der linken Spur.A stalled car impedes traffic in the left lane.This sentence illustrates how a car can impede traffic on a specific Spur.Tatoeba #11778694 by Yorwba, translation #6150332 by CarpeLanam
- Der äußerste Fahrstreifen ist für Lastwagen reserviert.The outer lane is reserved for trucks.
- Fahren Sie auf der linken Spur, um die Ausfahrt zu nehmen.Drive on the left lane to take the exit.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are driving on the highway.
- MaximilianWir müssen die Spur wechseln.We need to change lanes.
- SarahIst die rechte Spur frei?Is the right lane free?
- MaximilianJa, die Spur ist leer.Yes, the lane is empty.
- SarahDann fahr jetzt rüber.Then move over now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lane” translations and entries Spur, Streifen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Spur, Streifen, streifen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
