verlässliches

Verlässliches is a German term formed from the adjective verlässlich, meaning reliable or dependable. In usage, it can function as an adjective or as a nominalized form referring to what is dependable. As an adjective, it describes a person or thing that can be trusted: a verlässliches System, a verlässlicher Freund. When used as a noun, it appears as das Verlässliche or als the phrase etwas Verlässliches, meaning “the reliable thing” or “something reliable.”

In practice, the noun form emphasizes the object’s stability and proven dependability over time, rather than a single instance of functionality. It is common in both everyday language and technical or professional contexts to talk about verlässliches data, verlässliche Quellen or verlässliche Ergebnisse, where the focus is on consistency, reproducibility, and trustworthiness.

Usage notes and nuance: verlässlich and zuverlässig are closely related but carry different nuances. Verlässlich tends to stress ongoing dependability and a proven track record, while zuverlässig more broadly covers functionality and punctuality. Grammatically, attributive use with nouns is common (ein verlässliches System), whereas the noun form das Verlässliche appears when the reliable thing itself is singled out.

See also: Zuverlässigkeit (reliability), Vertrauenswürdigkeit (trustworthiness), Zuverlässig (reliable). In German dictionaries such as Duden, verlässlich is listed as the base adjective, with Verlässliches serving as a common nominal form in appropriate contexts.