Verbrauchtbar

Verbrauchtbar is a German term that appears occasionally, but it is generally regarded as a nonstandard variant of the standard adjective verbrauchbar. The correct and widely used form verbrauchbar means capable of being consumed or usable. It is used to describe items that can be used up or that are suitable for use without damage, such as consumables or materials that are intended to be consumed during use.

Etymology and form. The standard construction combines the verb verarbeiten/verbrauchen roots with the suffix -bar, yielding verbrauchbar. The appearance of the form verbrauchtbar with an added -t is not typical in modern standard German. When encountered, it is usually treated as a misspelling or a relic from older texts rather than a distinct, current term.

Usage and contexts. In everyday and technical language, verbrauchbar is used to distinguish consumable or usable items from durable goods. For example, consumables in a procurement or inventory context are described as verbrauchbar, whereas durable, long-lasting items are not. In most references, verbrauchbar is preferred, and ver brauchtbar would be corrected to verbrauchbar.

See also. Verbrauch (consumption), Verbrauchsgüter (consumables), Verwendungsfähigkeit (usability), Verwendungszweck (purpose of use). In practice, speakers should use verbrauchbar to avoid confusion.

In sum, verbrauchbar is the standard term for “usable” or “consumable” in German, while ver brauchtbar is generally considered nonstandard and should be avoided in formal writing.