befahrbaren

Befahrbar is a German adjective meaning capable of being traveled on by a vehicle or vessels, i.e., suitable for traffic. It describes routes, surfaces, or areas that can be traversed without needing to leave a vehicle or without encountering insurmountable obstacles. The term is commonly used in civil engineering, transportation planning, topography, and hydrology to indicate current or potential navigability.

The word is formed from the verb befahren, meaning to drive through or to travel along, plus the suffix -bar, meaning “able to be.” The inflected form befahrbaren is used in sentences according to the grammatical case and gender of the noun it modifies. For example, in a definite-article context one might encounter den befahrbaren Weg (the drivable path) or die befahrbaren Straßen (the drivable streets). In other contexts, the base form befahrbar is used before nouns with no strong ending, such as befahrbare Fläche.

Usage and scope: Befahrbar can apply to different modes of transport, including cars, bicycles, pedestrians, or vessels, depending on the specification. It is often used in maps, planning documents, and travel guides to convey current conditions or planned infrastructure. Seasonal or weather-related changes can affect befahrbarkeit, especially on rural roads, off-road paths, or mountainous routes.

Relation to related terms: Befahrbar is closely related to unbefahrbar (not drivable). It contrasts with terms that denote legal access or rights rather than physical possibility, such as permitted routes or restricted areas. See also befahren for the verb behind the concept.