Ungebrauchbares

Ungebrauchbares is a German noun phrase used to describe things that cannot be used or have lost their utility. It is formed from the negation prefix un- and the adjective gebrauchsbar (usable). The term can refer to physical objects, but it may also apply to ideas or proposals deemed unusable in a given context.

In grammar, ungebrauchbar is an adjective; its nominalized form is das Ungebrauchbare. When used as a noun, it is capitalized in German. The plural form is die Ungebrauchbaren, or one can speak of das Ungebrauchbare in a general sense as a mass noun. In everyday language the term is relatively literary or technical.

Usage and nuance: The expression carries a neutral descriptive meaning but can also convey irony or critical distance, depending on tone. It is commonly employed in discussions about waste, recycling, and the valuation of objects that have lost practical use. More common alternatives in everyday speech include unbrauchbar, nutzlos, schrott, or gerümpel.

Examples: "Viele Gegenstände im Keller gehören zum Ungebrauchbaren." translates as "Many items in the basement belong to the unusable category." Another sentence: "Das Ungebrauchbare lässt sich oft sinnvoll recyceln oder wiederverwenden."

See also: German language, usability, waste and recycling.