safe
/ˈseɪ̯f/adjective, noun, verb
safe is spelled S-A-F-E: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 117 times per million words in written English, the 904th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, safe means “Not in danger; out of harm's reach” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in safe?
| Letters | 4: S-A-F-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 |
| In writing | 117 times per million words; the 904th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is safe?
Safe appears 117 times per million words in written English, the 904th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce safe?
- /ˈseɪ̯f/
- [ˈseɪ̯f]
- Australia /ˈsæɪ̯f/
Safe has one syllable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-safe.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of safe
- safer comparative
- more safe comparative
- safest superlative
- most safe superlative
- safes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- safing participle, present
- safed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does safe mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Not in danger; out of harm's reach.
You’ll be safe from the storm here in the cabin.
- 2
Free from risk.
It’s safe to eat this berry.
- 3
Providing protection from danger; providing shelter.
We have to find a safe spot, where we can hide out until this is over.
- 4
When a batter successfully reaches first base, or when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base or returns to the base he last occupied; not out.
The pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at first, but he was safe.
- 5
In a location that renders it difficult to pot.
- 6
Properly secured.
The documents are safe inside the cabbinet.
- 7
Not susceptible to a specified source of harm.
dishwasher-safe
- 8
UKslangGreat, cool, awesome, respectable; a term of approbation, often as interjection.
noun
- 1
A box, usually made of metal, in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping.
- 2
slangA condom.
- 3
datedA ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects.
- 4
colloquialdatedA safety bicycle.
verb
- 1
To make something safe.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate safe?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of safe: SSC.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Safe in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | en sécurité, sauf , sans danger, sûr, safe , coffre-fort |
| German | sicher, gefahrlos , Tresor, Safe, Geldschrank |
| Portuguese | salvo, seguro, a salvo , cofre |
| Spanish | seguro, salvo, a salvo, en salvo , sano , caja fuerte |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does safe come from?
From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic *salawos, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced Old English sicor (“secure, sure”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).