Wir halten laut Nutzungsordnung den Fluchtweg frei.

We keep the escape route clear under the usage regulations.

Breakdown of Wir halten laut Nutzungsordnung den Fluchtweg frei.

• wir: we
• laut: according to
• die Nutzungsordnung: the usage regulations
• der Fluchtweg: the escape route

Questions & Answers about Wir halten laut Nutzungsordnung den Fluchtweg frei.

What does laut mean here?

Here laut means according to or as stated in.

So laut Nutzungsordnung means according to the usage rules / regulations.

This is a very common formal or semi-formal word in German, especially in notices, rules, reports, and official language.

Example:

• Laut Vertrag = according to the contract
• Laut Polizei = according to the police

Why is it den Fluchtweg and not der Fluchtweg?

Because Fluchtweg is the direct object of the verb phrase frei halten, so it is in the accusative case.

• nominative: der Fluchtweg
• accusative: den Fluchtweg

The subject is wir, and we are doing something to the escape route, so Fluchtweg becomes the object:

• Wir halten den Fluchtweg frei.

What does Fluchtweg mean exactly?