German Phrase
Geh nicht auf Fremde ein.
Meaning
A firm warning not to place trust in people you do not know. It is used to stress personal safety and caution in unfamiliar situations.
When to use
Use this sentence when giving safety advice, warning a friend about a suspicious situation, or in a broader discussion about trust and personal security.
✦Grammar Breakdown
GehnichtaufFremdeein
Imperative (Geh)
‘Geh’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘gehen’. In commands it appears without the infinitive ending – ‘gehen’ → ‘geh’.
Negation (nicht)
‘nicht’ negates the following verb phrase. It is placed directly before the separable verb’s prefix‑verb combination.
Separable verb ‘auf‑eingehen’
‘auf‑eingehen’ means ‘to trust / to rely on someone’. In the imperative the prefix ‘auf’ stays before the verb and the particle ‘ein’ moves to the end.
Accusative object (Fremde)
‘Fremde’ is the plural accusative of ‘der Fremde’ (stranger). The phrase addresses strangers in general, so the plural is used.
🗨In Conversation
Geh nicht auf Fremde ein.
Don't trust strangers.
Warum? Ich dachte, sie könnten mir helfen.
Why? I thought they might help me.
✕Common Mistakes
Geh nicht auf Fremde.
The verb ‘auf‑eingehen’ is separable; you must keep the particle ‘ein’ at the end of the sentence.
Vertraue nicht Fremde.
‘Vertrauen’ requires a dative object (e.g., ‘Vertraue nicht den Fremden’).
Geh nicht auf Fremden ein.
‘Fremden’ is dative; the verb takes an accusative object, so the correct form is ‘Fremde’.
↔Alternatives
Vertraue keinen Fremden.
Don't trust any strangers.
Trau dich nicht an Fremde heran.
Don't get close to strangers.
Sei vorsichtig mit Fremden.
Be careful with strangers.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries safety campaigns often use this phrasing. Note that ‘Fremde’ is plural; the singular form would be ‘Fremder’ (masc.) or ‘Fremde’ (fem.), but the plural sounds more natural when speaking about strangers in general. The verb ‘auf‑eingehen’ is colloquial – in formal writing you might prefer ‘vertrauen’.