adjectiveadverb

vertraulich

confidential

So, dass etwas nur für bestimmte Personen bestimmt ist und nicht weitererzählt werden soll.

Definition & meaning

The word vertraulich describes something that is intended to be kept secret or private. It implies that information should only be shared with a select group of people and not made public.

There are two primary ways the word is used:

Confidential/Secret: Information that must be handled with discretion and not disclosed to unauthorized parties (e.g., a "vertrauliche Mitteilung" or confidential message).
Intimate/Familiar: Describing a relationship or tone between people that is very close, personal, and trusting (e.g., a "vertraulicher Umgangston" or a familiar tone of conversation).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: It is an adjective. Depending on the context, it can be used predicatively or attributively. When used attributively, it follows standard German declension rules (e.g., "ein vertrauliches Gespräch").

Word origin: The word is derived from the noun Vertrauen (trust). It is composed of the prefix ver- and the root traulich (cozy, intimate), which itself stems from trauen (to trust/to marry). Literally, it describes something that is based on or worthy of trust.