flugunfähig

Flugunfähig is a German adjective that translates to "flightless" in English. It is most commonly used to describe animals that have lost the ability to fly. This can be due to a variety of evolutionary or physiological reasons. For example, ostriches and penguins are well-known flightless birds. In both cases, their wings have evolved for other purposes, such as running or swimming, respectively, rather than aerial locomotion.

The term can also be applied more broadly to objects or concepts that are unable to move through the air. For instance, a damaged airplane might be described as flugunfähig. In a metaphorical sense, it could refer to someone or something that is unable to progress or achieve a certain goal, though this usage is less common. The core meaning, however, remains tied to the inability to fly.