Hindern

Hindern is a German verb meaning to hinder, impede, or prevent. It is used to describe actions that block progress or interfere with a person, plan, or process. The basic sense is to create an obstacle or delay.

Usage and constructions: Hindern takes a direct object, as in Der Sturm hinderte die Rettungsarbeiten. It is also common in the construction jemanden daran hindern, etwas zu tun (to prevent someone from doing something), for example: Er hinderte mich daran, das Gebäude zu betreten. The past participle is gehindert, used with haben to form the perfect: Die Rettungsarbeiten haben den Sturm gehindert.

Conjugation notes: Hindern follows the regular conjugation pattern of German -ern verbs. In the present tense, typical forms are ich hindere, du hinderst, er hindert, wir hindern, ihr hindert, sie hindern; other tenses follow standard weak-verb endings. The past tense forms are hinderte, hindertest, hinderte, hinderten, hindertet, hinderten.

Nuance and related terms: Hindern is often contrasted with verhindern, which means to prevent something from happening rather than simply to obstruct progress. Hindern emphasizes obstruction or difficulty in continuing a course of action, whereas verhindern stresses an outcome that is avoided or prevented outright. The related noun Hindernis means obstacle, and is etymologically connected to the verb.

Examples: Der Sturm hinderte die Rettungsarbeiten. Niemand darf dich daran hindern, deine Meinung zu äußern. Nichts hindert ihn daran, die Wahrheit zu sagen.

See also: Hindernis (obstacle), behindern (to hinder someone directly). Hindern is a common term in everyday language as well as in formal and written German.