security
Loading your saved state.
security
A certificate that documents a private right, especially a financial claim or an ownership stake. Typical examples are stocks, bonds, or fund shares, which are often traded on the stock exchange.
Er hat sein Geld in verschiedene Wertpapiere investiert, um das Risiko zu streuen.
He invested his money in various securities in order to spread the risk.
The word is made up of 'Wert' (value) and 'Papier' (paper). So it literally describes a 'paper' that has or certifies a certain financial 'value'.
Früher waren Aktien tatsächlich gedruckte Wertpapiere.
In the past, stocks were actually printed securities.
In a financial context, 'Wertpapier' (security) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'in Wertpapiere investieren' (to invest in securities), 'mit Wertpapieren handeln' (to trade securities), and 'Wertpapiere kaufen' or 'verkaufen' (to buy or sell securities).
Sie handelt seit Jahren erfolgreich mit Wertpapieren an der Börse.
She has been successfully trading securities on the stock exchange for years.
'Wertpapier' (security) is a technical term from the world of finance and business. You mainly hear and read it in the news, specialist texts, or in conversations about investments.
Der Wert seines Wertpapierdepots ist im letzten Jahr gestiegen.
The value of his securities portfolio increased last year.
paper
'das Papier' and 'das Wertpapier' can be used in similar ways in finance. 'Wertpapier' is the precise term for something like a stock or bond, that is, for a financial right or an ownership stake. In this field, 'Papier' can be a shorter and more general word for a security, especially in the plural. This can be confusing because 'Papier' otherwise also means the material used for writing. But in conversations about money, the stock market, or investments, 'Papier' often means a security. If you want to be clear and precise, 'Wertpapier' is better.
Zur Vorbereitung auf den Kurs liest Max einen Text über Wertpapiere.
To prepare for the course, Max reads a text about securities.
Die Papiere der Firma sind heute stark gefallen.
The company's securities fell sharply today.