German word of the day: Öffis
Aaron Burnett - [email protected]
Published: 5 Dec, 2023 CET.
Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023 16:45 CET
You’ll see this shorthand word used often in newspapers or in everyday conversation about local travel.
What does it mean?
Öffis is a slang term for public transport and is often used in colloquial conversations or by tabloid newspapers.
How do you use it or where might you see it?
The full word for “public transport” in German – öffentlicher Verkehr – doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
So Germans often just shorten this to öffis in everyday conversation. Öffis is also a blanket term to refer to all modes of possible public transport – whether its bus, train, tram, or even ferry.
One of the famous Viennese trams. (Photo by Árpád Czapp on Unsplash)
How to use it?
Das KlimaTicket gilt für alle Öffis.
The Climate Ticket is good for all public transport.
Ich nehme Öffi und nicht mit dem Auto.
I take public transport instead of the car.
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What does it mean?
Öffis is a slang term for public transport and is often used in colloquial conversations or by tabloid newspapers.
How do you use it or where might you see it?
The full word for “public transport” in German – öffentlicher Verkehr – doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
So Germans often just shorten this to öffis in everyday conversation. Öffis is also a blanket term to refer to all modes of possible public transport – whether its bus, train, tram, or even ferry.
One of the famous Viennese trams. (Photo by Árpád Czapp on Unsplash)
How to use it?
Das KlimaTicket gilt für alle Öffis.
The Climate Ticket is good for all public transport.
Ich nehme Öffi und nicht mit dem Auto.
I take public transport instead of the car.
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