autobahns
|au-to-bahns|
🇺🇸
/ˈaʊtoʊˌbɑnz/
🇬🇧
/ˈaʊtəʊˌbɑːnz/
(autobahn)
high-speed road
Etymology
'autobahn' originates from German, specifically the word 'Autobahn', where 'Auto-' meant 'automobile' (from 'Automobil') and 'Bahn' meant 'track' or 'way'.
'autobahn' entered English directly from German in the 20th century as a loanword; the German compound was formed from 'Auto' + 'Bahn' and was adopted into English with little change.
Initially in German the compound simply meant 'road or track for automobiles'; in English it has come to denote the German system of high-speed, controlled-access highways (and sometimes similar roads elsewhere).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the controlled-access high-speed highways in Germany (notably some sections have no federally mandated speed limit).
The German autobahns are famous for having stretches with no speed limit.
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Noun 2
a fast, multi-lane, controlled-access highway (used broadly outside Germany to refer to similar high-speed roads).
Some drivers compare their country's motorways to the autobahns they read about.
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Last updated: 2025/11/23 18:54