The word gewiss functions as both an adjective and an adverb, with meanings that revolve around certainty, assurance, and a degree of unspecified quantity or identity.
When used as an adjective, gewiss describes something that is certain, definite, or assured. For example, eine gewisse Person translates to “a certain person,” where gewisse functions similarly to the English determiner certain, implying known identity to the speaker but unspecified to the listener. In contrast, eine gewissere Antwort means “a more certain answer,” with the word expressing increasing degrees of confidence. In this adjective use, gewiss agrees in gender, case, and number with the noun it modifies, following standard adjective declension rules.
As an adverb, gewiss takes on meanings such as “certainly” or “surely.” It often appears in affirmative responses, similar to sicher or bestimmt, as in Das ist gewiss so (“That is certainly the case”) or in more colloquial usage simply as a one-word reply, Gewiss, conveying firm agreement or assurance. It can also express emotional emphasis, particularly in elevated or formal registers. For example, Er hat gewiss gelitten translates to “He surely suffered,” suggesting not just factual confidence but also a sense of empathy or seriousness.
In both written and spoken German, gewiss can imply a vague quantity or quality, much like some or a certain in English. A phrase like eine gewisse Spannung war zu spüren (“a certain tension could be felt”) conveys a subtle, implied presence of something without naming it directly. Here, gewiss softens the expression while hinting at its significance.
The word has Old High German roots, derived from giwiss, related to the concept of knowledge or something being known. It shares etymological ground with the verb wissen (“to know”) and the noun Gewissheit (“certainty”), both of which reflect the same semantic field of knowledge, assurance, and clarity. The stem wiss- runs through many of these words, making them easily recognizable to learners once the connection is made.
From this root, several derived forms exist. Gewissheit, as mentioned, is the noun for certainty or assurance. Gewissensbisse refers to pangs of conscience, combining Gewissen (“conscience”) with Bisse (“bites”), literally meaning “bites of conscience.” The word gewissenhaft, meaning “conscientious” or “diligent,” also stems from this root and is typically used to describe someone careful and morally upright in their actions. Gewissen, although orthographically distinct, is closely tied historically and semantically, originally conveying something known internally, hence “conscience.”
In terms of formality, gewiss sits comfortably in both formal and neutral registers, though in colloquial speech it can sound a bit elevated or literary depending on the tone. More common everyday alternatives would include sicher and bestimmt for adverbial use. Sicher (“surely” or “safe”) is more frequently used in spoken language: Das ist sicher richtig (“That’s surely correct”). Bestimmt leans more toward “definitely,” often with stronger emphasis: Das wird bestimmt klappen (“That will definitely work”). Choosing between them depends on nuance. Gewiss may sound slightly more reserved or reflective, while bestimmt feels more assertive and confident, and sicher is the most neutral in tone.
Idiomatic uses of gewiss also appear in German expressions. The phrase mit ziemlicher Gewissheit means “with considerable certainty,” often found in formal contexts such as academic or journalistic writing. Another common phrase is aus gutem Gewissen, meaning “with a good conscience,” used to express moral clarity or justification. In contrast, mit schlechtem Gewissen reflects guilt or moral unease, showing the semantic expansion of the root word from factual certainty into moral realms.