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German Phrase

Wisch die Geräte nach Gebrauch ab.

/vɪʃ diː ˈɡeːʁɛ ˈnaːx ɡəˈbʁaʊ̯χ ap/
Meaning"Wipe the devices after use."
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Meaning

The sentence is a short instruction telling someone to wipe the devices clean after they have been used. It is typical of workplace or household cleaning directions and uses the informal ‘du’ form.

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When to use

Use this phrase on cleaning signs, in lab safety briefings, in kitchens, or whenever you want to remind a colleague or a family member to clean equipment after they finish using it.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WischdieGerätenachGebrauchab

1

Imperative (2nd person singular)

‘Wisch’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘wischen’. It drops the infinitive ending –en and adds no ending for du.

2

Separable prefix ‘ab‑’

‘abwischen’ is a separable verb; in the main clause the prefix moves to the end, so the command is ‘Wisch … ab’.

3

Accusative plural ‘die Geräte’

‘Geräte’ is a neuter plural noun; the accusative article is ‘die’, identical to the nominative.

4

Prepositional phrase ‘nach Gebrauch’

‘nach’ governs the dative, but ‘Gebrauch’ is used as a noun without an article, a common shorthand in instructions.

🗨In Conversation

A

Bitte wisch die Geräte nach Gebrauch ab.

Please wipe the devices after use.

Mache ich gleich, danke!

I'll do it right away, thanks!

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wische die Geräte nach Gebrauch ab.

    ‘Wische’ is the 1st‑person singular present, not the imperative. Use ‘Wisch’ for a direct command to ‘du’.

  • Wisch die Geräte nach dem Gebrauch ab.

    Both ‘nach Gebrauch’ and ‘nach dem Gebrauch’ are possible, but the shorter form is the standard in concise instructions.

  • Abwisch die Geräte nach Gebrauch.

    In the imperative the separable prefix must be split: ‘Wisch … ab’, not ‘Abwisch …’.

↔Alternatives

  • Reinige die Geräte nach dem Gebrauch.

    Clean the devices after the use.

  • Wische die Geräte nach dem Benutzen ab.

    Wipe the devices after using them.

  • Bitte die Geräte nach Gebrauch abwischen.

    Please wipe the devices after use.

de

Cultural Tip

In German, the imperative can sound abrupt, so it’s common to add ‘Bitte’ for politeness. Also, remember that many cleaning verbs are separable (e.g., ‘abwischen’, ‘aufwischen’), and the prefix always moves to the end in the main clause.