Breakdown of In erster Linie geht es um die Sicherheit.
die Sicherheit
the security
es geht um
to be about
in erster Linie
primarily, first and foremost
Questions & Answers about In erster Linie geht es um die Sicherheit.
Why does the sentence use In erster Linie to mean "first and foremost"?
In erster Linie literally translates to "in the first line." It is a very common fixed expression in German used to mean "primarily," "above all," or "first and foremost."
Could I say es ist über die Sicherheit instead of geht es um die Sicherheit?
No, es ist über is a direct English translation and sounds unnatural here. To say "it is about" or "the main issue is," German uses the fixed phrase es geht um followed by the accusative case. This is one of the most important phrases to master at the B2 level.
English just says "about safety." Why does the German sentence add the definite article die in um die Sicherheit?
In German, abstract nouns and general concepts—like "safety" (die Sicherheit), "life" (das Leben), or "nature" (die Natur)—usually require a definite article. English typically drops the article for these general concepts.
What case does the preposition um trigger here?
The preposition um always triggers the accusative case. Because Sicherheit is a feminine noun ending in -heit, the accusative article is die, which happens to look exactly the same as its nominative form.
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