fähig
See also: -fähig
German
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Variant of Middle High German gevæhic, from vāhen (“to catch”) (whence modern fangen). Thus originally “able to be comprehended”.
Pronunciation
[edit]- IPA(key): /ˈfɛːɪç/ (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
Audio (Germany (Berlin)): (file) - IPA(key): /ˈfeːɪç/ (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)
- IPA(key): /ˈfɛːɪk/ (common form in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
Audio (Germany (Berlin)): (file) - Hyphenation: fä‧hig
Adjective
[edit]fähig (strong nominative masculine singular fähiger, comparative fähiger, superlative am fähigsten)
- capable (having the general capability to) [with zu (+ dative) ‘of an act’]
- Synonym: imstande
- Der Angeklagte wäre zu so einer grausamen Tat nicht fähig.
- The accused would not be capable of such a cruel act.
- able (currently in the position to; most often mentally) [with zu (+ infinitive) ‘to do something’]
- Synonyms: in der Lage, imstande
- Ich bin im Moment nicht fähig, mich mit solchen Dingen zu beschäftigen. (because of personal distress, for example)
- I’m not currently able to occupy myself with such things.
- 1919, Walther Kabel, Irrende Seelen, Werner Dietsch Verlag, pages 118–119:
- Mein Hirn, überladen mit soviel Befürchtungen kaum mehr fähig, folgerichtig zu denken, fand keine Erklärung.
- My brain, overloaded with so many fears, hardly any longer able to think logically, found no explanation.
- qualified; skilled; skilful
- Synonyms: kompetent, qualifiziert, (rare) kapabel
- Der König beauftragte die fähigsten Handwerker mit der Arbeit.
- The king charged the most skilful artisans with the work.
Usage notes
[edit]- In older usage, fähig was construed with a genitive object: Der Angeklagte wäre solch einer grausamen Tat nicht fähig. This is now dated, but may still be encountered in elevated style.