das  Risiko

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʁɪˈzɪko/

🎲 What does 'das Risiko' mean?

The German word das Risiko (noun, neuter) refers to the possibility that an undertaking or action has negative consequences or causes damage. It describes the uncertainty about the future outcome of a situation where a loss or disadvantage could occur.

• Core meaning: Risk, the danger of loss, disadvantage, or failure.
• Context: Often used in economic, financial, health, technical, or everyday decision-making situations.

There is only this one main meaning, which always uses the article das. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse it with words like 'Chance' (opportunity, chance), although a Chance can sometimes involve a Risiko.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declension of 'das Risiko'

The noun 'Risiko' is neuter and uses the article 'das'. Here’s how it declines (dekliniert):

Example Sentences

1. Jede Investition birgt ein gewisses Risiko.
   (Every investment carries a certain risk.)
2. Der Arzt klärte den Patienten über die Risiken der Operation auf.
   (The doctor informed the patient about the risks of the surgery.)
3. Er ging bewusst das Risiko ein, seinen Job zu verlieren.
   (He consciously took the risk of losing his job.)
4. Wir müssen die Risiken sorgfältig abwägen.
   (We have to weigh the risks carefully.)
5. Das finanzielle Risiko war ihm zu hoch.
   (The financial risk was too high for him.)

💡 How to use 'Risiko'

The term 'Risiko' is widely used in German across various contexts:

• Wirtschaft & Finanzen (Economy & Finance): Often refers to finanzielles Risiko (financial risk), Investitionsrisiko (investment risk), Marktrisiko (market risk), etc. Example: "Das Risiko bei Aktiengeschäften ist nicht zu unterschätzen." (The risk in stock trading should not be underestimated.)
• Gesundheit (Health): In the medical field, Risiko relates to health hazards or potential side effects of treatments. Example: "Rauchen erhöht das Risiko für Lungenkrebs." (Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.)
• Technik & Sicherheit (Technology & Safety): Concerns technical failures, security vulnerabilities, or accident hazards. Example: "Bei der Softwareentwicklung müssen Sicherheitsrisiken minimiert werden." (Security risks must be minimized during software development.)
• Alltag & Entscheidungen (Everyday Life & Decisions): We constantly weigh risks in daily life too. Example: "Ist es ein Risiko, bei diesem Wetter wandern zu gehen?" (Is it a risk to go hiking in this weather?)

Common Collocations:

• ein Risiko eingehen (to take a risk) / tragen (to bear a risk) / scheuen (to shy away from a risk)
• ein Risiko minimieren (to minimize) / vermeiden (to avoid) / absichern (to hedge/insure against)
• ein hohes/geringes Risiko (a high/low risk)
• das Risiko abwägen (to weigh the risk)
• auf eigenes Risiko handeln (to act at one's own risk)

Compared to 'Gefahr' (danger), 'Risiko' often emphasizes the element of choice and weighing pros and cons more strongly, whereas 'Gefahr' tends to describe a more immediate threat.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Risiko'

For the article 'das': Think of other neuter abstract concepts like das Abenteuer (the adventure) or das Wagnis (the venture). Uncertainty often feels neutral or abstract, fitting das Risiko.

For the meaning: Taking a *RISe? Sounds risky! That's a RISIKO. Or imagine an o*utcome you don't know - that 'o' at the end reminds you it's das Risiko.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful distinguishing between Risiko and Chance – they are often two sides of the same coin.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette kein Risiko auf sich?

Weil sie keinen Mumm in den Knochen haben! 😉🦴

(Why don't skeletons take risks? Because they don't have the guts (literally: 'marrow/courage in their bones')!)

✍️ Poem about Risk

Das Leben, ein Spiel, oft ungewiss,
mal süßer Kuss, mal herber Biss.
Ein Schritt nach vorn, ein Blick zurück,
in jedem Tun steckt ein Stück
von jenem Wort, das Chancen birgt,
doch auch Gefahr im Schatten wirkt.
Das Risiko, mal groß, mal klein,
lädt uns zum Wagnis ständig ein.

(Life, a game, often uncertain,
Sometimes a sweet kiss, sometimes a harsh bite.
A step forward, a look back,
In every action lies a piece
Of that word which holds chances,
But also hides danger in the shadows.
The risk, sometimes big, sometimes small,
Constantly invites us to venture.)

❓ Riddle

Ich bin die Schwester der Gefahr,
doch manchmal auch der Chancen Schar.
Man wägt mich ab vor jeder Tat,
mal bring ich Segen, mal Verrat.
Im Handel, Spiel und auch im Leben,
wer mich nicht scheut, kann viel bewegen.

Was bin ich?

(I am danger's sister,
But sometimes also the host of chances.
I am weighed before every deed,
Sometimes I bring blessings, sometimes betrayal.
In trade, games, and also in life,
He who doesn't fear me can achieve much.

What am I?)

Solution: das Risiko (the risk)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

Wortherkunft (Etymology): The word 'Risiko' originally comes from Italian (risico or rischio), which likely meant 'cliff' that had to be navigated around. It entered German via seafaring and maritime trade, initially referring to the dangers of shipping.

Zusammensetzungen (Compounds): There are many compound words with 'Risiko' in German, e.g.:

• Risikobereitschaft (willingness to take risks)
• Risikogruppe (risk group)
• Risikokapital (venture capital)
• Risikomanagement (risk management)
• Risikofaktor (risk factor)