verb
to hinder, to obstruct, to impede
B1
Behindern: means 'to hinder', 'to obstruct' or 'to impede' — to slow or block progress. It's a regular weak verb using haben. Transitive: it takes an accusative object (jemanden/etwas behindern). Non‑reflexive, non‑separable, no stem changes. Common in legal and logistical contexts.
Examples
Die Bauarbeiten haben den Fluss behindert.
The construction work obstructed the flow of the river.
Seine Anwesenheit hat den Austausch nicht behindert.
His presence didn't obstruct the discussion.
Der starke Schneefall behinderte die Lieferwagen, weil die Straßen nicht geräumt waren.
The heavy snowfall hindered the delivery vans because the roads had not been cleared.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine someone standing behind a door and blocking it, physically preventing passage
sounds like 'behind + ern' — think 'to be behind' someone so they can't move
Notes
Commonly used transitively (someone/ something hinders someone/something). Do not confuse with 'hindern an + Dativ' (to prevent someone from doing something) — that construction uses the preposition 'an'.