schätzbare

Schätzbare is the attributive form of the German adjective schätzbar, meaning estimable, considerable, or appreciable. It describes something whose value, quantity, or importance can be assessed, or that is large or valuable enough to be noted. In everyday German it appears before a noun: eine schätzbare Menge, schätzbare Zeit, eine schätzbare Größe. The sense ranges from practical value (a sizeable quantity) to qualitative worth (an estimable character).

Origin and form: schätzbar comes from schätzen (to estimate, to value) with the adjectival suffix -bar. The form schätzbare is used with feminine singular nouns (eine schätzbare Person) and in some plural contexts depending on declension. The standard declension rules apply and the ending may be -e, -en, or -er depending on case and article.

Usage notes: Schätzbare is common in formal, technical, or literary language, and less frequent in casual speech. It should not be confused with geschätzt, which means “esteemed” or “valued” as a personal appraisal (die geschätzte Kollegin). Schätzung (noun) means “estimate” or “appraisal.”

See also: Schätzung, Schätzen, geschätzt.