Abfahrt vs. Abflug vs. Abreise
The German words Abfahrt, Abflug, and Abreise all translate to the English word departure, but they are used in very distinct contexts. The correct choice depends entirely on the mode of transportation and whether the focus is on the vehicle leaving or the person starting a journey.
Abfahrt
The word Abfahrt is used when the departure involves a vehicle that travels on the ground or on water, such as a train, bus, car, or ship. It is derived from the verb fahren, which means to drive or ride, and is also commonly used to describe a highway exit or a downhill ski run.
Die Abfahrt des Zuges verzögert sich um zehn Minuten.
(The departure of the train is delayed by ten minutes.)
Wir treffen uns eine halbe Stunde vor der Abfahrt am Bahnhof.
(We will meet at the station half an hour before departure.)
Verpassen Sie nicht die nächste Abfahrt auf der Autobahn.
(Do not miss the next exit on the highway.)
Die Abfahrt mit dem Schiff war ein unvergessliches Erlebnis.
(The departure by ship was an unforgettable experience.)
Der Skifahrer hat beim Rennen in der Abfahrt eine Goldmedaille gewonnen.
(The skier won a gold medal in the downhill race.)
Abflug
The word Abflug specifically refers to the departure of a flight or anything that travels by air, such as an airplane or a helicopter. It comes from the verb fliegen, which means to fly, and is the standard word you will find on the departure boards at any airport in German-speaking countries.
Unser Abflug ist für acht Uhr morgens geplant.
(Our flight departure is scheduled for eight in the morning.)
Bitte begeben Sie sich zwei Stunden vor dem Abflug zum Gate.
(Please proceed to the gate two hours before departure.)
Der späte Abflug hat unsere gesamten Reisepläne durcheinandergebracht.
(The late departure messed up all of our travel plans.)
Nach dem Abflug des Hubschraubers wurde es wieder still im Tal.
(After the departure of the helicopter, it became quiet in the valley again.)
Auf der Anzeigetafel stand, dass der Abflug wegen schlechten Wetters annulliert wurde.
(The display board stated that the departure was canceled due to bad weather.)
Abreise
The word Abreise refers to the general act of a person leaving for a journey, trip, or vacation, completely regardless of the mode of transportation. It stems from the verb reisen, meaning to travel, and focuses on the traveler's personal departure from a location rather than the mechanical movement of a vehicle.
Am Tag der Abreise war das Wetter leider sehr schlecht.
(On the day of departure, the weather was unfortunately very bad.)
Wir müssen vor unserer Abreise noch schnell die Koffer packen.
(We still need to quickly pack our suitcases before our departure.)
Ihre plötzliche Abreise aus dem Hotel hat uns alle überrascht.
(Her sudden departure from the hotel surprised us all.)
Das Zimmer muss am Tag der Abreise bis spätestens elf Uhr geräumt sein.
(The room must be vacated by eleven o'clock at the latest on the day of departure.)
Ich wünsche dir eine stressfreie Abreise und einen wunderbaren Urlaub.
(I wish you a stress-free departure and a wonderful vacation.)
Summary
To summarize, use Abfahrt when referring to the departure of ground or water vehicles like trains, buses, and ships. Use Abflug strictly for air travel departures like airplanes. Finally, use Abreise when talking about a person's general departure or the start of their journey, regardless of the vehicle they are taking.