Hohlweg

sunken lane, hollow way

noun HOL-vek Rare

Usage Note

Hohlweg is a narrow road or path that has been worn or cut below the surrounding terrain, leaving embankments on either side. These ancient features are common in hilly agricultural landscapes and are protected as historical paths in some German regions.

Examples

"Der Hohlweg zwischen den Feldern war jahrhundertelang ein wichtiger Fußweg."

Natural Translation

The sunken lane between the fields was an important footpath for centuries.

Literal Translation

The hollow-way between the fields was for centuries an important footpath.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Two-Way Prepositions: Accusative or Dative?

Use accusative for movement into a place (wohin?) and dative for a fixed location (wo?). Master all nine German two-way prepositions with one simple test.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Days, Months & Seasons (am, im & -tag)

Days of the week in German use am, months and seasons use im — plus the -tag pattern, capitalized nouns, and how to build a real sentence with a day.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

GermanNow

German Word Order: The Verb Rules That Trip You Up

German word order comes down to three verb-position rules: the verb is second in main clauses, last after weil and dass, and time comes before place.

June 5, 2026 6 min read