What does “barrierefrei” mean in German?
Zukunft der Flugzeugkabinen: Barrierefreiheit und Nachhaltigkeit
B2 German listening practice · German · Picked for people who know more
The report covers new plane cabins: a seat for your own wheelchair, a bigger toilet, lighting for people who can’t see well. Then comes the summary line — “barrierefreien Fliegen.” Here “barrierefrei” means flying with no barriers in the way, so travelers with a disability can move and use things on board too. It’s the standard, respectful German word for “accessible.”
Spoken line: “Der Fokus liegt in diesem Jahr vor allem auf dem barrierefreien Fliegen.” — “This year the focus is above all on barrier-free flying.” It joins “Barriere” (barrier) and “frei” (free), so something built with no barriers blocking people with disabilities. Examples: “ein barrierefreier Bahnhof” — a station you can reach without steps, also by wheelchair; “Die Website ist barrierefrei.” — The website works for people who can’t see or hear well. Usage: it’s the normal, respectful word in German for “accessible,” used for buildings, transport, toilets, and websites. The ending changes (“barrierefreien Fliegen”) just to fit the phrase — the meaning stays the same.
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Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-DE 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.