heikle

Heikle is a German adjective meaning delicate, tricky, or precarious. It describes matters that require careful handling because they are sensitive, controversial, or complex. The term is used in journalism, politics, law, and everyday speech. In English, it is often rendered as delicate or sensitive, as in eine heikle Frage (a delicate question) or eine heikle Situation (a delicate/sensitive situation).

Inflection and usage: German adjectives change with gender, number, and case. Before feminine singular nouns, as in Frage or Situation, the form is heikle: eine heikle Frage, die heikle Situation. For masculine singular nouns, the form is typically heikler (ein heikler Punkt). For neuter singular, it is heikles (ein heikles Thema). Plural forms follow the corresponding noun gender and article, e.g., heikle Fragen, heikle Punkte.

Nuance: The word often carries a moral, political, or social carga, implying that the matter is sensitive or potentially risky to address publicly. It can be used in formal and semi-formal registers, and appears in media, discussions of policy, and everyday conversations about delicate topics.

See also: delicate matter, sensitive topic, tricky issue.