händisch

Händisch is a German adjective and adverb meaning manual or by hand. It describes actions or processes performed without mechanical aid or automation, in contrast to maschinell (machine-driven) or automatisch (automatic).

In usage, händisch is common in technical and everyday contexts to distinguish manual work from automated or automated-assisted tasks. Examples include händische Eingabe (manual input), händische Bearbeitung (manual processing), or händische Montage (manual assembly). The term is often interchangeable with manuell, though händisch can carry a stronger emphasis on doing something without tools or machines.

Etymology and nuance: händisch is built from Hand (hand) with the suffix -isch, yielding a meaning aligned with other German formations like gedanklich or elektrisch. It focuses on the absence of mechanical support, rather than the craftsmanship quality implied by terms such as handgefertigt or handwerklich.

See also: manual (manuell), maschinell, von Hand, handgeprägt. In descriptions of workflows or interfaces, händisch contrasts with automated or computerized processes and is used to indicate the need for human intervention.