nützlich

Nützlich is a German adjective meaning useful or advantageous. It describes things, information, methods, or actions that help achieve a desired result or serve a practical purpose. The term signals practical value rather than aesthetic qualities and is typically neutral to positive in tone. Common uses include phrases like nützliches Werkzeug or nützliche Hinweise.

Etymology and related forms: Nützlich derives from the verb nutzen, meaning to use or to profit, with the characteristic umlaut in modern spelling. The related noun Nützlichkeit denotes usefulness or practicality, while Nutzbarkeit can refer to feasibility or usability. Related synonyms include hilfreich, brauchbar, vorteilhaft; antonyms include nutzlos, unbrauchbar, unwirtschaftlich.

Usage notes: In everyday language, nützlich characterizes information, tools, or ideas that have practical application. It answers questions about utility rather than beauty or value alone. Typical collocations include nützliches Werkzeug, nützliche Hinweise, or etwas ist nützlich zu wissen. In technical or instructional contexts, labeling something as nützlich emphasizes its ability to contribute effectively to a task or goal. The nuance may range from simply convenient to clearly beneficial, depending on context and tone.