praktikabel

Praktikabel is an adjective used in Dutch and several other Germanic languages to describe something that can be put into practice. In English-language contexts, the closest equivalents are practicable and feasible. The term is commonly applied to plans, policies, methods, or proposals to express that they can be implemented within existing constraints.

Origin and cognates: Praktikabel derives from Latin practicabilis, transmitted through historical linguistic paths into Dutch orthography, where the spelling uses a k. It has cognates in Afrikaans and other Dutch-influenced varieties, where the same or similar forms appear.

Usage: In governance, business, engineering, and law, describing a proposal as praktikabel signals practical viability rather than mere theoretical possibility. It implies consideration of factors such as cost, technical feasibility, schedule, administrative feasibility, and social acceptance. A project might be deemed praktikabel if the required resources are available and risks are manageable.

Differences from related terms: Practicable and feasible are close in meaning but can carry distinct emphasis in some contexts; practicable emphasizes the ability to carry out or perform, while feasible emphasizes possibility under given conditions. Praktikabel is the Dutch-language term for this concept and is sometimes encountered in multilingual documents and comparative studies.

See also: practicable, feasible, implementable, actionable, viable.