sicher
/ˈzɪçər/
The English word "safe" is translated into German as sicher.
sicher is an adjective meaning free from risk. It can also mean being sure or certain about a fact. When you need to refer to a technical or official "safety zone" or "safe area", German often uses the compound noun Sicherheitszone. If you are talking about a box for locking up valuables, you would use related nouns such as Tresor, Safe or Geldschrank.
Meaning: free from risk (adj)
Which one should you use?
While sicher means both "safe" (free from danger) and "sure/certain" (confident in a fact), it is distinct from the adverbial form used to express high probability.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzɪçər/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might confuse sicher (safe/certain) with sicherlich (certainly/surely), which is the adverbial form used to express high probability.
Did you know?
- The German word sicher shares a root with the English word 'secure' through their common ancestor in Latin sēcūrus, which originally described someone who was 'carefree'.
- To say something is 'safe' in the sense of being 'harmless' (like a safe chemical), Germans often use ungefährlich, which literally translates to 'un-dangerous'.
- In German, the phrase Sicher ist sicher is a common idiom similar to the English 'better safe than sorry'.
Examples in context
- Hier ist es sicher.It's safe here.Tatoeba #1909561 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1894563 by CK
- Wie sicher ist das?How safe is that?Tatoeba #9836996 by GaryGaryGary, translation #4495271 by CK
- Hier bist du sicher.You are safe here.Tatoeba #3239043 by Trinkschokolade, translation #3238863 by CK
- 341 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are talking about a mountain trail.
- SarahIst der Weg nach oben sicher?Is the way up safe?
- LukasJa, der Weg ist absolut sicher.Yes, the path is absolutely safe.
- SarahGut, dann gehen wir los.Good, then let's go.
- LukasLass uns vorsichtig sein, Sarah.Let's be careful, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “safe” translations and entries sicher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sicher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
