übertragbare

Übertragbare is the attributive form of the German adjective übertragbar, meaning capable of being transferred or transmitted. In English, the term is usually translated as transferable or transmissible, depending on the context. The word is formed from the verb übertragen (to transfer, to transmit) with the suffix -bar, which turns verbs into adjectives describing a capability.

Etymology and meaning: The prefix über- conveys crossing or across, while tragbar comes from tragen, “to carry.” Thus übertragbar literally means something that can be carried across or passed along. The sense can range from physical transfer to the transmission of information, diseases, rights, or properties.

Usage and domains: In medicine, übertragbare Krankheiten are diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another. In legal, financial, or business language, übertragbare Rechte or übertragbare Vermögenswerte describe rights or assets that can be transferred to another party. In everyday language, the adjective is used to describe any property or characteristic that can be passed along, transferred, or delegated, such as “eine übertragbare Eigenschaft” in technical discussions.

Grammar and inflection: Übertragbare is used attributively before a noun. Examples include “eine übertragbare Krankheit” (a transferable/transmissible disease) and “die übertragbaren Krankheiten” (the transmissible diseases). With definite articles in the plural, the form becomes “die übertragbaren Krankheiten”; with no article or in other cases, the ending adapts according to German adjective endings.

Related terms: The noun form is Übertragbarkeit, meaning transferability or transmissibility, and is used to discuss the capacity of transfer across contexts.