Transportmittel

/ˈtʁanspɔʁtˌmɪtl̩/

means of transport

Das Fahrrad ist ein umweltfreundliches Transportmittel.

The bicycle is an eco-friendly means of transport.

general

A vehicle or system used to move people or goods from one place to another.

In der Stadt sind öffentliche Transportmittel wie Busse und Bahnen sehr wichtig.

In the city, public transport means like buses and trains are very important.

Das Schiff ist ein langsames, aber kostengünstiges Transportmittel für schwere Güter.

The ship is a slow but cost-effective means of transport for heavy goods.

Used in both everyday and technical contexts (e.g., logistics, engineering).

Collocations

öffentliche Transportmittelpublic transportumweltfreundliches Transportmitteleco-friendly means of transportschweres Transportmittelheavy-duty transport

Synonyms

Verkehrsmittel Fortbewegungsmittel Beförderungsmittel

Pro Tip

Distinguish from 'Verkehrsmittel'

'Transportmittel' emphasizes the act of transporting goods or people, while 'Verkehrsmittel' (means of traffic) often refers to vehicles used in traffic systems. However, the two are often interchangeable in practice.

Word Origin

From German 'Transport' (borrowed from French 'transport') + 'Mittel' (means, tool). First attested in the 19th century.

Usage Notes

Common in formal and technical contexts (e.g., logistics, urban planning). In everyday speech, 'Verkehrsmittel' is slightly more frequent, but 'Transportmittel' is preferred in written and technical contexts.

Word Breakdown

Transport

transportation

root

Mittel

means, tool

noun

Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch