merkbare

Merkbare is the attributive form of the German adjective merkbar, meaning detectable, perceptible, or noticeable. It is used to describe something that can be perceived or observed, often in contexts such as science, analysis, or everyday observation.

In usage, merkbar typically precedes a noun and changes its ending according to gender, number, and case. For example: eine merkbare Veränderung (feminine singular, nominative or accusative), das merkbare Zeichen (neuter singular, definite article), die merkbaren Zeichen (plural, definite article). With indefinite articles across genders, the forms are ein merkbarer Mann (masculine), ein merkbares Zeichen (neuter). Without an article, strong inflection yields: merkbare Zeichen (plural), merkbares Zeichen (neuter), merkbarer Mann (masculine). These variations reflect standard German adjective declension rules.

Etymologically, merkbar derives from merken, “to notice” or “to perceive,” with the suffix -bar indicating capability. The word thus literally conveys “capable of being noticed.” The form merkbare is one of several inflections of the adjective used in attributive position before nouns.

Common usage and nuance: merkbar is widely used in academic, statistical, and technical writing to describe observable differences, effects, or phenomena, as in merkbare Unterschiede or merkbare Auswirkungen. It can also appear in everyday language to note something perceptible, such as eine merkbare Veränderung im Verhalten. It is distinct from synonyms like sichtbar (visible) or erkennbar (recognizable) and from merkenswert (noteworthy), which carries a stronger evaluative sense.

See also: Merkmal, Bar- suffix, German adjectives and declension.

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