sicher

Sicher is a German word with several closely related meanings. As an adjective, it denotes safety or security, as in ein sicherer Ort (a safe place) or sichere Maßnahmen (secure measures). It can also mean certain or undoubtful, as in "Es ist sicher" (it is certain / it is safe). As an adverb, sicher means surely or certainly, yielding phrases like "Er kommt sicher" (he will surely come). In everyday speech, "Sicher!" can be used as an affirmative interjection, roughly meaning "Sure!" or "Of course!"

Etymology and relations: Sicher belongs to the Germanic family of words tied to safety and certainty. It is the basis for the noun Sicherheit (safety, security) and the verb sichern (to secure, to insure). The form appears in other West Germanic languages as cognates, such as Dutch zeker and English sure, reflecting common roots in the notions of certainty and protection. The word is inflected for gender, number, and case when used as an adjective (e.g., sicherer Mann, sichere Straßen).

Usage notes: In compounds and technical language, sicher often describes reliability or protection, as in eine sichere Verbindung (a secure connection) or sichere Daten (secure data). In negation, nicht sicher expresses uncertainty. The word also carries stylistic nuances; in more formal contexts, synonyms like gewiss or bestimmt may be preferred to convey greater emphasis, while sicher remains common in everyday speech.