verlässlich
reliable
adjective fer-LES-likh Less Common
Origin: from sich verlassen auf (to rely on)
Also means
dependable
Usage Note
verlässlich describes people and information you can count on. It overlaps with zuverlässig but stresses the trust placed rather than the trait itself: eine verlässliche Quelle (a reliable source). Common in formal and journalistic German.
Examples
"Wir brauchen einen verlässlichen Partner."
Natural Translation
We need a reliable partner.
Literal Translation
We need a reliable partner.

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