Krankenwagen

ambulance

noun KRAHN-ken-vah-gen Rare

Origin: from Kranke (sick person) and Wagen

Usage Note

Krankenwagen is masculine and unchanged in the plural. You rufen einen Krankenwagen (call an ambulance); the synonym Rettungswagen stresses emergency rescue, while Krankenwagen is the everyday term.

Examples

"Der Krankenwagen raste mit Blaulicht zum Unfall."

Natural Translation

The ambulance raced to the accident with flashing lights.

Literal Translation

The ambulance raced with blue-light to-the accident.

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