In 15 Seconds
- To keep a secret and not tell anyone.
- Used for trust-based situations and professional discretion.
- Focuses on the act of preserving someone's privacy.
Meaning
This phrase means you are keeping a piece of information private and not telling anyone else about it. It is the act of being a trustworthy vault for someone's sensitive or personal news.
Key Examples
3 of 6Asking a friend if they are trustworthy
Kannst du ein Geheimnis bewahren?
Can you keep a secret?
Assuring a colleague about work info
Ich werde dein Geheimnis auf jeden Fall bewahren.
I will definitely keep your secret.
Texting a friend about a surprise
Pst! Bewahre das Geheimnis bis Freitag! 🤫
Shh! Keep the secret until Friday!
Cultural Background
Privacy is a constitutional right. Keeping secrets is not just a social courtesy but a reflection of the high value placed on 'Datenschutz' (data protection). The Swiss are world-famous for their 'Bankgeheimnis' (banking secrecy), which is a national-level application of 'ein Geheimnis bewahren'. Discretion is key in Viennese coffee house culture, where many secrets are shared but expected to be 'bewahrt'. German companies take 'Betriebsgeheimnisse' (trade secrets) very seriously. Employees often sign strict clauses to 'bewahren' these secrets.
The 'Vault' Rule
Think of 'bewahren' as putting the secret in a vault. It's an active job!
Avoid 'halten'
Never say 'ein Geheimnis halten'. It's the #1 giveaway that you're translating from English.
In 15 Seconds
- To keep a secret and not tell anyone.
- Used for trust-based situations and professional discretion.
- Focuses on the act of preserving someone's privacy.
What It Means
Imagine you are a human safe. Someone hands you a golden nugget of information. You lock it up and throw away the key. That is ein Geheimnis bewahren. It is more than just not talking. It is about actively protecting a piece of information. You are ensuring that a secret stays exactly where it belongs: with you. It is a fundamental part of being a reliable friend or a professional colleague.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this with the verb bewahren at the end of the sentence. You can ask someone, "Kannst du ein Geheimnis bewahren?" This is the perfect way to test the waters before sharing juicy gossip. You can also use it in the past tense. If someone stayed quiet, you say, "Er hat das Geheimnis bewahrt." It sounds a bit more elegant and serious than just saying "nothing said." It focuses on the virtue of your silence.
When To Use It
Use this when trust is the main topic. It is perfect for surprise party planning. Use it when a friend tells you they are pregnant before the official announcement. It is also very common in professional settings. Think about lawyers, doctors, or tech developers. They all have to Geheimnisse bewahren every single day. It works in texts, over coffee, or in a serious office meeting. It shows you understand the weight of the information.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical things. You do not bewahre your keys in your pocket. For that, you would use aufbewahren. Also, do not use it for promises. In German, you "hold" a promise: ein Versprechen halten. If you say you "preserve" a promise, it sounds like you put it in a jar of vinegar. Finally, if you just want to tell someone to shut up, this is way too polite. Use something punchier for that!
Cultural Background
Germans take privacy very seriously. They even have a specific word for it: Privatsphäre. This phrase reflects that cultural value deeply. If a German friend shares a secret, they expect you to be a fortress. Breaking that trust is a major social faux pas. It is often linked to the concept of Zuverlässigkeit (reliability). In a culture that values order and rules, keeping your word is a matter of personal honor.
Common Variations
If you are hanging out with close friends, you might say dicht halten. This literally means "to hold tight" or "stay leak-proof." It is much more casual. For something very formal, like a legal contract, you might see Stillschweigen bewahren. That translates to "preserving silent silence." It sounds very serious and a bit like a spy movie. But for 90% of your life, ein Geheimnis bewahren is the gold standard.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe to use in any context. Just remember to use the dative case if you specify who you are keeping the secret for (e.g., 'jemandem ein Geheimnis bewahren' is rare; usually, it's 'vor jemandem').
The 'Vault' Rule
Think of 'bewahren' as putting the secret in a vault. It's an active job!
Avoid 'halten'
Never say 'ein Geheimnis halten'. It's the #1 giveaway that you're translating from English.
Use with 'können'
This phrase is most commonly used with 'können' (to be able to) or 'müssen' (must).
Trust is Earned
In Germany, being asked to 'bewahren' a secret is a sign of deep friendship.
Examples
6Kannst du ein Geheimnis bewahren?
Can you keep a secret?
A very common way to start a confidential conversation.
Ich werde dein Geheimnis auf jeden Fall bewahren.
I will definitely keep your secret.
Using 'auf jeden Fall' adds strong emphasis to your reliability.
Pst! Bewahre das Geheimnis bis Freitag! 🤫
Shh! Keep the secret until Friday!
Short and direct, perfect for a quick message.
Mein Hund ist toll, er kann jedes Geheimnis bewahren.
My dog is great, he can keep any secret.
A joke because dogs obviously can't talk.
Danke, dass du mein Geheimnis all die Jahre bewahrt hast.
Thank you for keeping my secret all these years.
Shows deep gratitude and long-term trust.
Wir müssen das Geheimnis vor Mama bewahren.
We have to keep the secret from Mom.
Uses 'vor' to indicate who the secret is being kept from.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'bewahren' and the article for 'Geheimnis'.
Ich verspreche dir, ich werde ____ {das|n} Geheimnis ____.
We need the indefinite article for a neuter noun in the accusative (ein) and the infinitive verb at the end of the sentence with 'werde'.
Which sentence is correct?
Which one sounds like a native speaker?
'Bewahren' is the correct collocation for secrets in German.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kannst du wirklich ____? B: Ja, ich erzähle es niemandem!
The context of 'not telling anyone' requires the verb 'bewahren'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at work and your boss tells you about a new project that is not public yet.
In a professional setting, you 'bewahren' the 'Dienstgeheimnis' (official secret).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Bewahren vs. Halten
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch verspreche dir, ich werde ____ {das|n} Geheimnis ____.
We need the indefinite article for a neuter noun in the accusative (ein) and the infinitive verb at the end of the sentence with 'werde'.
Which one sounds like a native speaker?
'Bewahren' is the correct collocation for secrets in German.
A: Kannst du wirklich ____? B: Ja, ich erzähle es niemandem!
The context of 'not telling anyone' requires the verb 'bewahren'.
You are at work and your boss tells you about a new project that is not public yet.
In a professional setting, you 'bewahren' the 'Dienstgeheimnis' (official secret).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with friends, but it's also perfectly fine in a professional email.
'Bewahren' sounds more like guarding/protecting. 'Für sich behalten' is more like 'not sharing'. Both are common.
Yes! 'Wir müssen das {das|n} Geheimnis für die Party bewahren' is perfect.
The opposite is 'verraten' (to betray/reveal).
Yes, it is always {das|n} Geheimnis. Plural is {die|f} Geheimnisse.
No, that would mean 'I preserve you' (like a mummy). You 'bewahren' things, not people, in this sense.
You say: 'Ich kann kein {das|n} Geheimnis bewahren.'
Yes, 'dichthalten' is the most common slang version.
Yes, it is a regular verb: 'Ich bewahrte' (simple past) or 'Ich habe bewahrt' (present perfect).
'Schützen' means to protect from harm. 'Bewahren' is the specific word used for information and secrets.
Related Phrases
etwas für sich behalten
similarTo keep something to oneself.
dichthalten
synonymTo keep one's mouth shut.
ein Geheimnis verraten
contrastTo betray/reveal a secret.
Verschwiegenheit bewahren
specialized formTo maintain confidentiality.
jemandem etwas anvertrauen
builds onTo entrust someone with something.
