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German Phrase

Ist es hier sicher?

/ɪst ɛs hiːɐ̯ ˈzɪçɐ/
Meaning"Is it safe here?"
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Meaning

The sentence asks whether the current location is safe. It can refer to personal safety, crime rates, or even the reliability of a situation. In German it is a neutral, straightforward way to request reassurance about safety.

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When to use

Use this question when you arrive in a new neighbourhood, ask a hotel receptionist, or talk to locals about a street, park, or public transport stop you are about to use.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Isteshiersicher?

1

Verb 'sein' (Ist)

‘Ist’ is the 3rd person singular present of ‘sein’. In yes‑no questions the verb moves to the first position.

2

Dummy subject ‘es’

‘es’ is a placeholder subject used when the real subject is a clause or an adjective, common in impersonal statements.

3

Adverb of place ‘hier’

‘hier’ means ‘here’ and modifies the whole clause, indicating the location being talked about.

4

Predicative adjective ‘sicher’

‘sicher’ is used predicatively after ‘sein’ to describe the state of the place; it does not need a noun.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ist es hier sicher?

Is it safe here?

Ja, das Viertel ist sehr ruhig und gut beleuchtet.

Yes, the neighbourhood is very quiet and well‑lit.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ist es hier sicherlich?

    ‘sicherlich’ means ‘certainly’, not ‘safe’. Using it changes the meaning completely.

  • Ist es hier Sicherheit?

    ‘Sicherheit’ is a noun meaning ‘security’; the sentence needs the adjective ‘sicher’.

  • Ist es hierher sicher?

    ‘hierher’ means ‘to here’, which is not appropriate when asking about the current place.

↔Alternatives

  • Ist das hier sicher?

    Is this place safe?

  • Ist es an diesem Ort sicher?

    Is it safe at this location?

  • Kann man hier sicher sein?

    Can one feel safe here?

de

Cultural Tip

German speakers tend to be direct, so asking ‘Ist es hier sicher?’ is perfectly acceptable in most contexts. If you want to sound extra polite, you can add ‘Bitte’ at the end or phrase it as ‘Könnten Sie mir sagen, ob es hier sicher ist?’ In some regions (e.g., Austria) you might also hear ‘Ist es hier ungefährlich?’ but ‘sicher’ is the standard word across German‑speaking countries.