unreliable
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unreliable
Describes a person you cannot rely on because they do not keep promises or honor agreements.
Mein Kollege ist leider sehr unzuverlässig und kommt oft zu spät zu Terminen.
Unfortunately, my colleague is very unreliable and often arrives late for appointments.
The word is the opposite of 'zuverlässig' (reliable) and is related to the verb 'sich auf jemanden/etwas verlassen' (to rely on someone/something). An unreliable person or thing is therefore someone or something you cannot rely on.
Man kann sich nicht auf ihn verlassen, er ist einfach zu unzuverlässig.
You can't rely on him; he is simply too unreliable.
The word can refer to people and to things. With people, it means that they do not keep promises. With things like devices or information, it means that they do not function correctly or consistently.
Er kommt ständig zu spät, er ist wirklich unzuverlässig.
He is constantly late; he is really unreliable.
When referring to people, 'unzuverlässig' (unreliable) is often used to evaluate their behavior in social or professional contexts. Typical examples are 'ein unzuverlässiger Kollege' (an unreliable colleague) or 'ein unzuverlässiger Partner' (an unreliable partner).
Wegen seiner unzuverlässigen Art wollte niemand mit ihm im Team arbeiten.
Because of his unreliable nature, no one wanted to work with him on the team.
With things, technology, or information, 'unzuverlässig' (unreliable) describes a lack of functionality or correctness. Common combinations are 'eine unzuverlässige Internetverbindung' (an unreliable internet connection), 'unzuverlässige Daten' (unreliable data), or 'ein unzuverlässiges Auto' (an unreliable car).
Ich brauche ein neues Auto, mein altes ist zu unzuverlässig geworden.
I need a new car; my old one has become too unreliable.
uncertain / insecure
'unsicher' and 'unzuverlässig' can both mean that you cannot really rely on something. But the difference is important. 'unsicher' often describes a person with little self-confidence, or a thing that is dangerous, wobbly, or unsafe. 'unzuverlässig' describes a person, device, or piece of information that does not do what you expect. For people, it means they do not keep agreements. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with a lack of trust. But an insecure person is not automatically unreliable; they can be nervous and still do everything correctly.
Ali ist unzuverlässig, weil er oft zu spät kommt und Termine vergisst.
Ali is unreliable because he is often late and forgets appointments.
Paula wirkt beim ersten Treffen unsicher, obwohl sie gut vorbereitet ist.
Paula seems insecure at the first meeting, even though she is well prepared.