unhandliche

Unhandliche is a German adjective meaning unwieldy, cumbersome, or awkward to handle. It describes objects that are large, heavy, irregular in shape, or otherwise difficult to use or manipulate, as well as processes, procedures, or interfaces that are not user-friendly.

Etymology: The form derives from handlich, meaning handy or easy to handle, with the negating prefix un- to indicate the opposite. The attributive form unhandliche occurs before feminine singular nouns (eine unhandliche Maschine) and in other declensions consistent with German adjective inflection (das unhandliche Werkzeug; die unhandlichen Koffer).

Usage: The term is common in everyday language as well as technical or consumer-oriented writing. It can modify equipment, tools, devices, furniture, or architectural design that pose handling challenges. Examples: Die unhandliche Kiste lässt sich kaum tragen. Die Bauweise ist unhandlich und ineffizient. It contrasts with handlich, meaning easy to handle.

Nuance: Unhandlich emphasizes practical usability and physical or operational difficulties rather than abstract complexity. In some contexts, alternatives such as umständlich (cumbersome) or schwerfällig (bulky) may be used, while unhandlich specifically signals difficulty in handling rather than general inconvenience.

Related terms: Unhandlichkeit (noun: unwieldiness). See also Handlichkeit (handiness, ease of handling). Synonyms include sperrig, schwer zu handhaben, klobig; antonyms include handlich, handhabbar, praktisch.