German Phrase
Meide dunkle, verlassene Orte.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct piece of advice: ‘Avoid dark, abandoned places.’ It warns the listener to stay away from locations that might be unsafe or unsettling.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving safety tips, warning a friend about a spooky building, or in a travel guide that emphasizes staying out of potentially dangerous spots.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meidedunkle,verlasseneOrte.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Meide’ is the imperative form of the verb ‘meiden’ (to avoid) used for giving a direct command or advice to ‘du’.
Attributive adjectives (plural, nominative)
‘dunkle’ and ‘verlassene’ describe ‘Orte’. In the plural nominative without an article they take the weak ending ‘-e’.
Comma usage
A comma separates two coordinate adjectives when they are equally important, similar to English ‘dark, abandoned places’.
🗨In Conversation
Meide dunkle, verlassene Orte.
Avoid dark, abandoned places.
Warum? Gibt es dort etwas Gefährliches?
Why? Is there something dangerous there?
✕Common Mistakes
Meide dunkel, verlassene Orte.
Adjectives need the correct ending in the plural nominative without an article; ‘dunkel’ should be ‘dunkle’.
Meide die dunkle, verlassene Orte.
If you add a definite article, the adjective ending changes to ‘-en’. Without the article it stays ‘-e’.
Vermeide dunkle, verlassene Orte.
‘Vermeide’ is also correct, but learners sometimes mix the two verbs and lose the short, punchy tone of the original phrase.
↔Alternatives
Vermeide dunkle, verlassene Plätze.
Avoid dark, abandoned spots.
Halte dich von dunklen, verlassenen Orten fern.
Stay away from dark, abandoned places.
Geh nicht in dunkle, verlassene Gebäude.
Don’t go into dark, abandoned buildings.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries safety warnings often sound very direct, especially in outdoor or urban contexts. Using the imperative ‘Meide’ is common in written signs, travel brochures, and casual conversation when you want to stress personal responsibility. Be aware that in formal settings a softer phrasing like ‘Es ist ratsam, dunkle, verlassene Orte zu meiden’ may be preferred.