Krise

Krise is a German noun meaning "crisis." It is feminine (die Krise) and forms the plural Krisen. The word comes from the Greek krisis, via Latin crīsis and Old French crise, and it has cognates in many European languages. In English, the closest equivalent is crisis, while French uses crise.

In German usage, Krise denotes a turning point characterized by danger, instability, or uncertainty. It is employed across various domains to describe periods of difficulty or upheaval, and it is common to form compound terms such as Wirtschaftskrise (economic crisis), politische Krise (political crisis), Gesundheitskrise (health crisis), or Identitätskrise (identity crisis). The term can refer to a short emergency or to a more extended phase of instability and ensuing decision-making.

Beyond its literal sense, Krise appears in journalism, politics, economics, and psychology to convey urgency and seriousness. It can describe not only public or national emergencies but also personal adversities or existential pressures. The concept is often analyzed in discussions of crisis management, resilience, and strategic response.

Krise is primarily a German lexical item, but it shares its roots with related terms in other languages, notably the English "crisis" and the French "crise." As a proper noun, Krise may occasionally appear as a surname or place name in some cultural contexts, though such uses are less common and highly context-dependent.