fällig

Fällig is a German adjective meaning due, payable, or overdue, depending on context. It describes something that has reached its designated date for action, such as a payment, a deadline, or the maturity of a financial obligation.

Common uses include payments and deadlines: "Die Rechnung ist fällig" means the bill is due. "Der Fälligkeitstermin" or "das Fälligkeitsdatum" designates the date by which something must be paid or fulfilled. The term also appears in phrases like "fällige Zahlung" and "fällig werden." In finance, "Fälligkeit" refers to the due date or maturity of a claim; in everyday language it signals that action is now required. If a payment is late, it is described as overdue ("überfällig"), and penalties may apply.

Grammatically, fällig functions as an adjective and is used both attributively and predicatively: "eine fällige Zahlung" and "die Rechnung ist fällig." Its usage is common with nouns such as Rechnung (bill), Zahlung (payment), and Gläubigerforderungen (claims).

Etymology: The term stems from the idea that a claim or obligation "falls" into a due status, i.e., becomes due.

See also: Fälligkeit, Fälligkeitstermin, Fälligkeitsdatum, überfällig, Mahnung.