autobahn
/ˈaʊ̯toˌbɑːn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.49 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The high-speed intercity highways of Germany and Austria.
noun
Example Sentences
- "On a recent afternoon a work crew and crane were affixing the tall lettering to the side of the team’s new stadium, just off the autobahn in Sinsheim, a few miles from Hoffenheim."
- "Confusion reigned on German autobahns and highways at the start of one of the busiest holiday breaks of the year on Thursday after Google Maps wrongly indicated that vast swathes of them were closed."
- "These ant autobahns function much the same as human highways to speed transport of goods and to reduce bumps and potholes in the path."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-)lbor. French auto- Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin mōbilislbor. French mobile French automobilebor. German Automobil German Auto Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰon-eh₂ Proto-Germanic *banō Proto-West Germanic *banu Old High German *bana Middle High German ban German Bahn German Autobahnbor. English autobahn Borrowed from German Autobahn.