håndterbar

Håndterbar is an adjective used in Norwegian and Danish (and in Swedish as hanterbar) to describe something that can be managed or controlled without excessive difficulty. It can refer to tasks, amounts, or situations that are within practical limits, as opposed to overwhelming or unmanageable. In English, the closest equivalents are manageable or feasible.

Etymology and usage: The term is formed from hånd meaning hand and håndtere meaning to handle, plus the suffix -bar, which indicates that something is able to be. This suffix is common in Scandinavian languages, yielding adjectives that mean capable of being acted upon. Håndterbar can also be used figuratively, as in a handheld risk or a manageable workload.

Related terms and nuances: Similar synonyms include gjennomførbar (feasible), overskuelig (easy to grasp or oversee), overkommelig (reasonable or affordable), and styrbar (controllable). Antonyms include uoverskuelig (hard to grasp or overwhelming) or uoverkommelig (impossible to handle). The noun form is håndterbarhet, meaning manageability. In usage, håndterbar tends to describe tasks or risks that are of a tolerable size or complexity, rather than extremes.

Notes on usage: In Norwegian and Danish, the word is commonly used in professional and everyday language to describe things that can be dealt with without excessive effort. The term is part of a broader family of -bar adjectives formed from verbs indicating action and the ability to be affected or controlled.