German Phrase
Meide Hindernisse und andere Elektrogeräte.
Meaning
‘Avoid obstacles and other electrical devices.’ The sentence is a concise safety instruction, telling the listener to steer clear of anything that could block movement or cause an electric hazard.
When to use
Use this phrase on safety signs, in user manuals for robots, drones, or industrial equipment, and whenever you need to give a short, direct warning about physical and electrical hazards.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MeideHindernisseundandereElektrogeräte.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Meide’ is the imperative form of the verb ‘meiden’, used to give a direct command to ‘you’ (du).
Plural noun
‘Hindernisse’ is the plural of ‘das Hindernis’ (obstacle).
Coordinating conjunction
‘und’ simply links two noun phrases.
Indefinite adjective
‘andere’ means ‘other’ and agrees in case, number and gender with the noun it modifies.
Compound noun
‘Elektrogeräte’ is a plural compound noun meaning ‘electrical devices’; the plural ending –e is added to the base ‘das Elektrogerät’.
🗨In Conversation
Wie soll ich den Roboter steuern?
How should I control the robot?
Meide Hindernisse und andere Elektrogeräte.
Avoid obstacles and other electrical devices.
✕Common Mistakes
Meiden Hindernisse und andere Elektrogeräte.
‘Meiden’ is the infinitive; the correct command form is the imperative ‘Meide’.
Meide Hindernisse und andere elektrische Geräte.
Both are correct, but in technical manuals ‘Elektrogeräte’ is preferred; mixing the two can sound inconsistent.
Meide Hindernis und andere Elektrogeräte.
The sentence refers to multiple obstacles, so the plural ‘Hindernisse’ is needed.
↔Alternatives
Vermeide Hindernisse und andere elektrische Geräte.
Avoid obstacles and other electrical devices.
Achte darauf, Hindernisse und andere Elektrogeräte zu umgehen.
Make sure to go around obstacles and other electrical devices.
Halte Abstand von Hindernissen und sonstigen Elektrogeräten.
Keep a distance from obstacles and other electrical devices.
Cultural Tip
German safety instructions favor short, imperative sentences without polite forms. In public signage you’ll often see the direct ‘Meide …’ style. If the instruction is part of a longer text aimed at a broader audience, you might soften it with ‘Bitte’ (please) or use the formal ‘Sie’ form: ‘Bitte meiden Sie …’. Also note that ‘Elektrogeräte’ is the standard term in technical contexts, while ‘elektrische Geräte’ is more common in everyday speech.