kasutamatu

Kasutamatu is an Estonian adjective meaning not usable or unusable. It describes something that cannot be used for its intended purpose, often because of damage, malfunction, obsolescence, or incompatibility. The term is commonly used in technical descriptions, consumer labeling, and everyday language to flag items that fail to perform as required.

Morphology and usage: Kasutamatu is formed from the verb kasutama (to use) with a privative suffix that conveys negation of usability. In practice, kasutamatu can modify nouns directly, as in kasutamatu tööriist (an unusable tool) or kasutamatu seade (an unusable device). The form is typically used in predicative or attributive position and agrees with the noun in number and case.

Nuance and related terms: Kasutamatu emphasizes actual functional nonavailability rather than mere lack of use. It is distinct from kasutamata, which typically means “not yet used” or “not in use” in a more temporary sense, and from kasutu, which conveys general uselessness or inefficacy. In many contexts, kasutamatu describes a state resulting from damage, incompatibility, or obsolescence, whereas kasutamata focuses on the absence of usage up to the present.

See also: kasutus (usage), kasutamine (the act of using), kasutatav (usable), kasutu (useless), kasutamata (not used).

Overall, kasutamatu is a practical term in Estonian for labeling objects or systems that cannot serve their intended function, providing a concise way to communicate nonoperability or nonavailability.