Verletzliche

Verletzliche is a German adjective meaning vulnerable or susceptible to harm. It is commonly used to describe people, groups, situations, or systems that may be exposed to risk, damage, or injury. Typical phrases include eine verletzliche Situation, verletzliche Gruppen or verletzliche Personen, where the word modifies the noun.

Grammatical notes: as an attributive adjective, verletzliche takes endings according to gender, case, and definiteness. For example: eine verletzliche Person, eine verletzliche Lage, die verletzlichen Personen. The forms reflect standard German adjective declension with definite or indefinite articles. In some contexts, verletzliche can also appear as a capitalized noun meaning “the vulnerable,” for instance der Verletzliche / die Verletzliche or die Verletzlichen, used in policy or journalistic language to refer to vulnerable people.

Usage and nuance: the term emphasizes susceptibility rather than intrinsic weakness, and it is widely used in health, social policy, and risk discourse. It often conveys a need for protection, support, or safeguards for those at greater risk—such as children, elderly, people with disabilities, refugees, or communities facing environmental or economic stress. The concept is closely linked to Verletzlichkeit, the more abstract state of vulnerability, and to Schutzbedarfe, the protection needs that arise from it.

Related terms: verletzlich, verletzlichkeit, verwundbar, empfindlich. In English, a near-equivalent is “vulnerable.” The term remains context-dependent, and its appropriateness depends on the precise meaning and audience.