geläufige

Geläufige is an adjective in German that describes something as widely known, familiar, or commonly used. It refers to words, expressions, practices, or procedures that have become standard and are readily understood by native speakers. The nuance is that what is geläufig is not obscure or highly specialized, but part of ordinary usage.

Usage and meanings include describing terminology or expressions that have gained general acceptance, for example: eine geläufige Redewendung (a common expression) or ein geläufiger Fachausdruck (a standard term in a field). It can also apply to practices or procedures, such as eine geläufige Vorgehensweise or eine geläufige Praxis, indicating a familiar or widely used approach.

Etymology and related terms: The adjective derives from the sense of laufen, in the sense of “in Gebrauch sein,” with the suffix -ig, forming a descriptor for things that are in use. The related noun Geläufigkeit denotes the degree of familiarity or frequency of use. Similar terms include gebräuchlich (commonly used), üblich (usual), and verbreitet (widespread). The choice among them depends on nuance: geläufig emphasizes familiarity to speakers, gebräuchlich emphasizes general use, and verbreitet emphasizes broad distribution.

Usage notes: In formal or semi-formal writing, geläufig is often preferred to signal standard language without implying official status. In highly technical contexts, speakers may opt for gebräuchlich or verbreitet to convey different shades of commonality. Geläufige language is therefore a marker of conventional familiarity within a given linguistic community.