adjective

geborgen

safe · secure

Es beschreibt ein Gefühl von Sicherheit, Wärme und Schutz, oft verbunden mit Nähe und Vertrauen.

Definition & meaning

The German word geborgen is an adjective that describes a state of feeling safe, protected, and sheltered. It implies a sense of emotional security, comfort, and warmth, often in the presence of loved ones or in a place where one feels completely at ease.

It has two primary nuances:

Feeling of safety: Being in a state where one feels secure, free from harm, and emotionally anchored (e.g., "Ich fühle mich bei dir geborgen" – I feel safe/cherished with you).
Recovered (from an emergency/accident): In a technical or journalistic context, it refers to something or someone that has been retrieved or rescued from a dangerous situation, such as a shipwreck, a disaster site, or underwater (e.g., "Die Leichen wurden aus dem Wrack geborgen" – The bodies were recovered from the wreckage).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: It is the past participle of the verb bergen. It is used as an adjective to describe a state.
Word origin: It stems from the Old High German bergan, which means "to hide," "to protect," or "to shelter." Historically, it is related to the English word "bury" (in the sense of putting something away for safekeeping) and "borough" (a fortified place).