German · Bahnhof / Deutsche Bahn
You want to take a different train from the one on your Sparpreis ticket because yours is late: what to say in German
You want to take a different train from the one on your Sparpreis ticket because yours is late.
💡
How it's done. A Sparpreis is a cheaper ticket, but Zugbindung means it is valid only for the named train; if the train is twenty minutes or more late the restriction is lifted.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Ihre Fahrkarte gilt nur für diesen Zug. Das ist ein Sparpreis mit Zugbindung.EE-reh FAHR-kuhr-teh geelt noor fyoor DEE-zayn tsook. Dahs eest ighn SHPAHR-prighs meet TSOOG-been-doong.
Your ticket is valid only for this train. It is a saver fare with a train restriction.
They might also say:
Sie haben einen Sparpreis. Er gilt nur für den gebuchten Zug.
Zee KHAH-bayn IGH-nayn SHPAHR-prighs. Ehr geelt noor fyoor dayn geh-BOOKH-tayn tsook.
You have a saver fare. It is valid only for the booked train.
YOU REPLY
Mein Zug hatte vierzig Minuten Verspätung. Gilt das?
Mighn tsook KHAH-teh FEER-tseekh mee-NOO-tayn fehrsh-PEH-toong. Geelt dahs?
My train was forty minutes late. Does that count?
Or say:Ich habe einen anderen Zug genommen, weil meiner sehr spät war. Ist das ein Problem?
Eekh KHAH-beh IGH-nayn AHN-deh-rayn tsook geh-NOH-mayn, vighl MIGH-nuh zehr shpet vahr. Eest dahs ighn proh-BLEM?
THEY SAY
Ja, dann ist die Zugbindung aufgehoben. Sie müssen nichts nachzahlen.Yah, dahn eest dee TSOOG-been-doong OWF-geh-khoh-bayn. Zee MYOO-sayn neekhts NAHKH-tsuh-layn.
Yes, then the train restriction is lifted. You don't have to pay anything extra.
They might also say:
Ab zwanzig Minuten Verspätung dürfen Sie jeden Zug nehmen. Sie zahlen nichts nach.
Ahp TSVAHN-tseekh mee-NOO-tayn fehrsh-PEH-toong DYOOR-fayn zee YEH-dayn tsook NEH-mayn. Zee TSAH-layn neekhts nahkh.
From twenty minutes' delay you may take any train. You pay nothing extra.
2
YOU REPLY
Das ist gut. Muss ich etwas zeigen?
Dahs eest goot. Moos eekh EH-tvuhs TSIGH-gayn?
That's good. Do I have to show anything?
THEY SAY
Der Schaffner sieht die Verspätung im System. Zeigen Sie einfach Ihre Fahrkarte.Dehr SHAHF-nuh zeet dee fehrsh-PEH-toong eem zyoos-TEM. TSIGH-gayn zee IGHN-fuhkh EE-reh FAHR-kuhr-teh.
The conductor sees the delay in the system. Just show your ticket.
3
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank für die Erklärung!
FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong!
Thank you very much for the explanation!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Fahrkarte
FAHR-kuhr-teh
noun
ticket
gilt
geelt
verb
applies
nur
noor
adverb
only
Zug
tsook
noun
train
ist
eest
verb
is
Sparpreis
SHPAHR-prighs
noun
saver fare
34 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You look for a left-luggage locker at the station for your suitcaseBahnhof / Deutsche Bahn · A1 in the app
→You buy a train ticket to Munich at the ticket officeBahnhof / Deutsche Bahn · A2 in the app
→You look for the platform of your trainBahnhof / Deutsche Bahn · A1 in the app
→You left a bag on the train and ask at the lost property officeBahnhof / Deutsche Bahn · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report