touren

/ˈtuːʁən/
to tour

Wir touren durch Europa.

We're touring through Europe.


informal

to travel around a region or country for pleasure or business, often visiting multiple places

Die Band tourt seit einem Monat durch Deutschland.

The band has been touring through Germany for a month.

Er tourt als DJ in Clubs weltweit.

He tours as a DJ in clubs worldwide.

Often used for musicians, athletes, or businesspeople traveling for work. Can also imply a leisurely journey without a fixed itinerary.

informal

to ride a bicycle or motorcycle for recreation or sport

Im Sommer touren wir gerne durch die Berge.

In summer, we like to tour through the mountains.

Er tourt jeden Sonntag mit seinem Mountainbike.

He goes touring every Sunday with his mountain bike.

Common in cycling and motorcycle culture. Can also refer to long-distance travel by bike.

Collocations

eine Tour machento go on a tourauf Tour seinto be on toureine Radtour machento go on a bike tour

Related Phrases

auf Tour gehenphrase
to set out on a tour
auf Tournee seinphrase
to be on a concert tour

Pro Tip

Distinguish from 'Tour'

'Tour' (noun) refers to the journey itself, while 'touren' (verb) describes the action of traveling around. E.g., 'Wir machen eine Tour durch die Alpen' (We're going on a tour through the Alps) vs. 'Wir touren durch die Alpen' (We're touring through the Alps).

Gold Rule

Usage with prepositions

'touren' is typically used with 'durch' (through) or 'in' (in) to indicate the area being traveled. E.g., 'durch Europa touren' (to tour through Europe), 'in den Alpen touren' (to tour in the Alps).

Word Origin

From Middle High German *turen*, from Old French *tourer* ('to turn, go around'), from Latin *tornāre* ('to turn on a lathe'). Related to 'Tour' and 'Tournee'.

Usage Notes

Primarily used in informal contexts. For formal travel descriptions, 'reisen' or 'bereisen' may be more appropriate. The verb is often used reflexively in the sense of 'to go on a tour' (sich auf Tour begeben).

Word Breakdown

tour
turn, round, tour
root
+
-en
verbal suffix
suffix
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