Verspätung

delay

noun fer-SHPAY-toong Rare

Origin: from spät (late)

Also means

lateness

Usage Note

Verspätung is feminine and the everyday word for a transport delay; you say der Zug hat Verspätung (the train is delayed). The opposite of being on time. Plural: Verspätungen.

Examples

"Der ICE hatte heute eine Verspätung von zwanzig Minuten."

Natural Translation

The high-speed train had a delay of twenty minutes today.

Literal Translation

The ICE had today a delay of twenty minutes.

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