How do you say Threat in German?

From looming danger to political tension to a scary situation on the street - Germans call it a Bedrohung. It’s a strong word that signals something serious, approaching, and unwelcome.

The noun Bedrohung means threat, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll see it in news headlines, security discussions, and personal conversations about danger or fear.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Bedrohung.

Pronunciation

Bedrohung is pronounced approximately [buh-DROH-ung], with steady long o and short u.

• droh has a steady long o, without the glide in American “grow,”
• The ending -ung has a short u as in “put” and ng as in “sing,”
• The stress is on the second syllable: be-DROH-ung.

It sounds a little slow and heavy - fitting for a word that signals danger.

Example sentences:

• Die Bedrohung wurde ernst genommen.The threat was taken seriously.
• Cyberangriffe sind eine wachsende Bedrohung.Cyber attacks are a growing threat.

Nuance and usage tips

Bedrohung comes from the verb bedrohen - to threaten. It refers to:

1. Direct threats of harm
   • eine physische Bedrohung - a physical threat
   • unter Bedrohung - under threat (contextual phrase)
     bedroht sein - to be under threat; bedrohte Tierarten - endangered species
   • Bedrohung mit einer Waffe - threat with a weapon
2. Abstract or general threats
   • Terrorismus als globale Bedrohung - terrorism as a global threat
   • eine Bedrohung für die Demokratie - a threat to democracy
   • Klima-Bedrohung - climate threat (transparent compound)
     die Bedrohung durch den Klimawandel - the threat posed by climate change
3. Emotional / psychological threat
   • gefühlte Bedrohung - perceived threat
   • ständige Bedrohung - constant threat

Its antonym might be Sicherheit (safety, feminine) or Schutz (protection, masculine), depending on the context.