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noun

die Bundesstraße, -n

federal highway

Wichtige Straße, die durch mehrere Städte oder Regionen eines Landes führt und vom Staat betreut wird.

Definition & meaning

A Bundesstraße is a federal road in Germany that connects different regions, cities, or states. It serves as a primary traffic artery for motorized vehicles, ranking just below the Autobahn (motorway) in the German road hierarchy.

  • Primary meaning: A long-distance road maintained by the federal government, typically marked by yellow signs with black numbering (e.g., B 1, B 54). Unlike an Autobahn, Bundesstraßen often pass through towns and villages, and they are usually not restricted to motor vehicles only, meaning cyclists or slow agricultural machinery may be permitted unless otherwise signposted.
  • Secondary nuance: The term is sometimes used colloquially to refer to any significant arterial road that connects one major hub to another, regardless of its official administrative classification.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun.

  • Nominative singular: die Bundesstraße
  • Genitive singular: der Bundesstraße
  • Dative singular: der Bundesstraße
  • Accusative singular: die Bundesstraße
  • Plural: die Bundesstraßen

The word is a compound noun formed from two parts:

  1. Bund: Meaning "federal" or "federation," referring to the central government of Germany.
  2. Straße: Meaning "street" or "road."

Therefore, it literally translates to "federal road."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Fernverkehrsstraße: A road intended for long-distance traffic.
  • Hauptstraße: A main road, though this is often used for roads within a city rather than between cities.
  • Landstraße: A country road or rural road; while a Bundesstraße is a specific type of Landstraße, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation.

Antonyms:

  • Autobahn: A controlled-access highway designed for high-speed travel, which sits above the Bundesstraße in the road hierarchy.
  • Nebenstraße: A side street or minor road with significantly less traffic volume.
  • Sackgasse: A dead-end street, which is the functional opposite of a through-road.

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Examples

Morgen fahren wir über die Bundesstraße.noun

Tomorrow we will drive along the federal highway.

Nach dem Unfall blieb die Bundesstraße lange gesperrt.noun

After the accident, the federal highway remained closed for a long time.

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