Riskant

Riskant is an adjective used in Dutch and German to describe something that involves risk, uncertainty, or potential danger. The term signals that outcomes are not guaranteed and may be negative. In everyday language, riskant can carry a neutral or slightly negative tone, depending on context.

In Dutch, riskant commonly modifies plans, actions, investments, or situations. Examples include een riskante investering (a risky investment), een riskante beslissing (a risky decision), or een riskante onderneming (a risky venture). It is frequently used in business, journalism, and ordinary conversation to indicate that a course of action carries notable uncertainty or potential loss.

In German, riskant likewise describes situations, plans, or decisions with elevated risk. Phrases such as eine riskante Entscheidung or eine riskante Lage are typical. While widely understood, riskant can sound formal or cautious; in casual speech, other terms like gefährlich or heikel may be used, depending on whether the emphasis is on danger, sensitivity, or difficulty. Riskant in German often concerns strategic or operational risk rather than immediate physical harm.

Etymology and related terms: riskant derives from the root risk, which exists in both Dutch and German and is linked to the broader family of words around risk in European languages. Related nouns include Dutch risico and German Risiko, and the English equivalent risky. The -ant suffix is a common way to form adjectives describing a characteristic.

See also: risk management, risk assessment, considerations of safety and feasibility.