German Phrase
Nimm Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mit.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction to take three essential items – food, water, and a first‑aid kit – with you, typically before a trip or an outdoor activity. The imperative form makes it sound like a friendly reminder or a brief checklist.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re preparing for a hike, a camping night, a day trip, or any situation where basic survival supplies are needed. It works well in both casual conversation with friends and more formal briefings, such as a guide speaking to a group.
✦Grammar Breakdown
NimmEssen,WasserundeinErste‑Hilfe‑Setmit.
Imperativ (du)
‘Nimm’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘nehmen’ (to take).
Mass nouns without article
‘Essen’ and ‘Wasser’ are uncountable nouns, so they appear without an article in this list.
Indefinite article
‘ein’ is the neuter indefinite article that matches the gender of ‘Set’.
Compound noun
‘Erste‑Hilfe‑Set’ is a compound noun; each component is capitalized in German.
Separable verb particle
‘mit’ is the particle of the separable verb ‘mitnehmen’; in the imperative it is placed at the end of the clause.
Conjunction ‘und’
‘und’ simply links the items in the list.
🗨In Conversation
Wir gehen morgen wandern. Was sollen wir einpacken?
We’re going hiking tomorrow. What should we pack?
Nimm Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mit.
Take food, water and a first‑aid kit with you.
✕Common Mistakes
Nehmen Sie Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mit.
‘Nehmen Sie’ is the formal imperative; using it with ‘mit’ at the end would be ‘Nehmen Sie ... mit.’ The sentence is meant for informal ‘du’.
Nimm das Essen, das Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mit.
Adding the definite article changes the meaning to ‘the food’ and sounds unnatural in a generic checklist.
Nimm Essen, Wasser und ein Erste Hilfe Set mit.
Compound nouns in German are written together or with a hyphen; the correct form is ‘Erste‑Hilfe‑Set’.
Nimm Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mitnehmen.
In the imperative you split the verb; writing ‘Nimm Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mitnehmen.’ is grammatically incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Packe Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set ein.
Pack food, water and a first‑aid kit.
Vergiss nicht, Essen, Wasser und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mitzunehmen.
Don’t forget to take food, water and a first‑aid kit.
Nimm etwas zu essen, etwas zu trinken und ein Erste‑Hilfe‑Set mit.
Take something to eat, something to drink and a first‑aid kit.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries it’s common to carry a small ‘Erste‑Hilfe‑Set’ on any outdoor excursion; many hiking clubs even require it by law. When you mention ‘Essen’ or ‘Wasser’ without an article, you’re speaking in a generic sense, which sounds natural in a checklist. If you want to be more specific, you can say ‘etwas zu essen’ or ‘Flaschenwasser’. Also note that the separable verb ‘mitnehmen’ always places ‘mit’ at the end in the imperative, unlike English where the particle stays attached to the verb.