die  Vermeidung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈmaɪdʊŋ/

🤔 What Exactly Does die Vermeidung Mean?

Die Vermeidung refers to the act or process of deliberately bypassing, not doing, or preventing something from happening. It's about getting out of the way of a specific situation, action, person, or outcome.

It is always a feminine noun and uses the article die. There are no other articles for this word.

• Meaning 1: The active act of dodging or evading (e.g., die Vermeidung von Konflikten - the avoidance of conflicts).
• Meaning 2: The prevention of something negative (e.g., die Vermeidung von Fehlern - the prevention of mistakes, die Vermeidung von Krankheiten - the prevention of diseases).

🚨 Attention: Don't confuse it with Meidung, which often implies a stronger social or emotional distancing.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 A Closer Look at the Grammar of die Vermeidung

Die Vermeidung is a feminine noun. The plural (die Vermeidungen) is rarely used because it often refers to an abstract concept. When used, it refers to specific acts of avoidance.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences 📜

1. Die Vermeidung von Augenkontakt kann ein Zeichen von Unsicherheit sein. (Avoidance of eye contact can be a sign of insecurity.)
2. Zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen sollten wir klare Regeln aufstellen. (To avoid misunderstandings, we should establish clear rules.)
3. Er praktiziert die Vermeidung jeglichen Risikos. (He practices the avoidance of any risk.)
4. Diese Impfung dient der Vermeidung einer schweren Erkrankung. (This vaccination serves the prevention of a serious illness.)

💡 How is die Vermeidung Used?

Die Vermeidung is often used in contexts where the goal is to evade negative consequences, dangers, or unpleasant situations.

• Conflict avoidance: Seine Strategie ist die konsequente Vermeidung von Streit. (His strategy is the consistent avoidance of arguments.)
• Risk avoidance: Im Finanzwesen ist die Vermeidung unnötiger Risiken essenziell. (In finance, the avoidance of unnecessary risks is essential.)
• Error prevention: Qualitätsmanagement zielt auf die Vermeidung von Produktionsfehlern ab. (Quality management aims at the prevention of production errors.)
• Health: Die Vermeidung von Zucker ist Teil ihrer Diät. (The avoidance of sugar is part of her diet.)
• Psychology: Vermeidungsverhalten kann ein Symptom für Angststörungen sein. (Avoidance behavior can be a symptom of anxiety disorders.)

The word is often used with prepositions like zur (zur Vermeidung von... - for the avoidance/prevention of...) or in genitive constructions (die Vermeidung des Problems - the avoidance of the problem).

🧠 Mnemonics for die Vermeidung

Article die: Think of the English word 'die'. You often want to practice Vermeidung (avoidance) of things that could lead to 'die'-ing! Also, nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die).

Meaning: Vermeidung sounds a bit like 'fair my doing'. Imagine saying, 'It wasn't fair, my doing that, so I practiced avoidance!' Or simply remember it comes from the verb vermeiden (to avoid).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Vermeidbarkeit (die): Avoidability (The quality of being avoidable. Die Vermeidbarkeit des Fehlers war offensichtlich. - The avoidability of the mistake was obvious.)
• Vermeintlich: Adjective - supposed, alleged. (No direct relation to Vermeidung!)

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Steuerberater immer kalte Füße?
(Why does the tax advisor always have cold feet?)

Wegen der ständigen Vermeidung von warmen Gedanken an die Karibik während der Steuererklärung! 😉
(Because of the constant avoidance of warm thoughts about the Caribbean during tax declaration!)

✍️ Poem about Vermeidung

Manch einer sucht die Vermeidung,
(Some seek avoidance,)
Von Streit, von Stress, von jeder Scheidung.
(Of conflict, stress, of any parting.)
Er geht den Dingen aus dem Weg,
(He gets out of the way of things,)
Ein stiller, oft gewund'ner Steg.
(A quiet, often winding path.)

Doch manchmal muss man sich stellen,
(But sometimes one must face,)
Den Ängsten, Sorgen, dunklen Wellen.
(The fears, worries, dark waves.)
Denn stete Vermeidung, das ist klar,
(Because constant avoidance, that is clear,)
Macht's selten besser, Jahr für Jahr.
(Seldom makes it better, year after year.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Schutzschild, unsichtbar und fein,
(I am a shield, invisible and fine,)
Lass Schwierigkeiten lieber draußen sein.
(I prefer to leave difficulties outside.)
Konflikten geh' ich aus dem Weg,
(I get out of the way of conflicts,)
Bin oft ein kluger, manchmal feiger Steg.
(I am often a clever, sometimes cowardly path.)

Was bin ich? / What am I?
(Lösung / Solution: die Vermeidung / avoidance)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition

Die Vermeidung is a noun derived from the verb vermeiden (to avoid). The ending -ung is frequently used to form nouns from verbs in German, and these nouns are almost always feminine (→ die).

• ver-: Prefix, often meaning 'away' or indicating a change.
• meiden: Verb - to avoid, shun.
• -ung: Suffix used for nominalization (noun creation).

Interestingly, excessive Vermeidung (avoidance behavior) can be considered problematic in psychology and may be part of various disorders.