Prekären

Prekären is the plural, inflected form of the German adjective prekär, used to describe conditions, situations, or social arrangements that are insecure, unstable, or lacking sufficient protection. In contemporary usage, the term commonly refers to precarious work (such as temporary contracts, part-time or gig economy arrangements), irregular income, and precarious living conditions, but it can also describe unstable housing, uncertain social status, or fragile political circumstances. The concept is often discussed in sociology, labor market policy, and political discourse to highlight vulnerability and the lack of long-term security.

Grammatically, prekären appears before plural nouns and after definite articles or other determiners in the appropriate case. For example: die prekären Verhältnisse (nominative or accusative plural) and den prekären Verhältnissen (dative plural). In other plural forms with indefinite determiners or without a determiner, the ending differs (prekäre Verhältnisse, etc.). This pattern reflects standard German adjective declension.

Etymology and related terms: prekär comes from French précaire, which in turn derives from Latin precarius, meaning dependent on the will or favor of another. In German, the adjective has become a common label for insecure social and economic conditions. A related noun is das Prekariat, used in sociology and political theory to refer to a social class characterized by persistent insecurity and instability.

See also: precarious work, precarious employment, precarious living conditions, Prekariat.