Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reisepass | /ˈʁaɪ̯zəˌpas/ | masculine |
| Pass | /pas/ | masculine |
A passport is an official document used for foreign travel. You may also encounter the synonym Das Reisedokument (travel document) in formal contexts. Other related terms include die Passkontrolle for passport control and das Passfoto for a passport photo.
What does it mean word for word?
Reisepass is a compound noun consisting of Reise (travel or journey) and Pass (passport or pass).
Which one should you use?
Reisepass is the full, formal term for a travel passport. In contrast, Pass is a common, shortened version used in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both Reisepass and Pass are masculine nouns. Their plural form is Pässe (passports). Because these are masculine, the word changes to den Pass (the passport) when it is used as the direct object (accusative case) of a sentence, such as in Ich habe den Pass (I have the passport).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁaɪ̯zəˌpas/
Did you know?
- A historical ancestor of the word Pass was the Middle High German word pas, which actually referred to parts of a deer's entrails.
- In German, Pass is also the word used for a mountain pass between two peaks.
Examples in context
- Hier ist mein Pass.Here's my passport.This sentence is useful for identifying your passport.Tatoeba #3016303 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2648130 by CK
- Wer hat Ihren Pass?Who has your passport?This sentence is useful for asking who is in possession of a passport.Tatoeba #8232316 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8598085 by deniko
- Tom hat einen Pass.Tom has a passport.This sentence is useful for stating that someone possesses a passport.Tatoeba #10095189 by wolfgangth, translation #7792688 by Hybrid
- Kann ich bitte Ihren Reisepass sehen?Can I please see your passport?
- Wo finde ich die Passkontrolle?Where can I find the passport control?
- Ich habe mein Reisedokument verlorenI have lost my travel document
- 199 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are at the airport check-in desk.
- LauraHast du deinen Reisepass dabei?Do you have your passport with you?
- FelixJa, ich habe meinen Reisepass in der Tasche.Yes, I have my passport in my bag.
- LauraSehr gut, wir können jetzt gehen.Very good, we can go now.
- FelixIch bin froh, dass ich ihn nicht vergessen habe.I am glad that I did not forget it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “passport” translations and entries Reisepass, Pass, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pass, Reisepass, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
