gefährlich

Gefährlich is a German adjective describing something that poses danger, risk, or the potential for harm. It is used for situations, actions, objects, or substances that could cause injury, damage, or negative consequences.

The term is formed from the noun Gefahr (danger) with the suffix -lich, which yields an adjective meaning “dangerous.” The related noun Gefährlichkeit expresses the concept of dangerousness. The adverbial use is identical to the adjective: man kann sagen, jemand fährt gefährlich schnell.

In usage, gefährlich often conveys a stronger warning than synonyms like riskant or unsicher, though the nuance can vary with context. In safety and regulatory language, signs and labels frequently rely on the noun Gefahr (Danger) and the adjective gefährlich to indicate hazard. Substances or situations may be described as gefährliche Substanz or gefährliche Situation. The term can apply to people, animals, or behavior, when there is a real or perceived threat.

Common pairs and contrasts include gefährlich versus sicher (safe) and gefahrlos (without danger). The comparative form is gefährlicher and the superlative am gefährlichsten. In everyday speech, gefährlich can appear in warnings, advisories, or descriptive statements about potential outcomes, always signaling a need for caution or protective measures.