Bahnen

Bahnen is the plural form of the German noun Bahn, and it denotes a path, track, or route in several related senses. The most common usage is in transportation, where Bahnen refers to lines or services within a rail network. In this sense it appears in compounds such as Eisenbahn (railway), Straßenbahn (tram), and U-Bahn (underground). In road contexts, a related term is Fahrbahn, which means a carriageway or lane; Bahnen by itself is more commonly used for rail lines or general routes rather than for individual road lanes.

In sports and recreation, Bahnen describes lanes or tracks. For example, in athletics or swimming, athletes compete or train on separate Bahnen, and in track-and-field stadiums or pools the term is regularly used to indicate the designated lanes.

In science, Bahnen refers to the trajectories or paths followed by moving bodies. In astronomy and celestial mechanics, the word is used for planetary or satellite orbits or the paths of objects under gravitational influence. The plural form emphasizes multiple paths or trajectories, such as the distinct Bahnen of several planets or comets.

The term is also used more figuratively to describe the course of events or directions in life or policy, as in “auf neuen Bahnen,” meaning to pursue new directions. Bahnen thus functions as a polyvalent word bridging transport, sport, science, and everyday language. See also Bahn, Eisenbahn, Straßenbahn, Fahrbahn, and orbital Bahnen in physics.