-baar

The -baar Suffix

Level 4

Add -baar to a verb for -able: eet → eetbaar (edible). Before a noun it is -bare: 'n draagbare rekenaar (a portable computer).

How It Works

1. Verb + -baar. Take the verb stem and add -baar:

  • eet (eat) → eetbaar (edible)
  • drink → drinkbaar (drinkable)
  • lees (read) → leesbaar (readable)
  • betaal (pay) → betaalbaar (affordable)
  • haal (reach) → haalbaar (achievable)

2. Stems that change. A few use a different stem: sien (see) → sigbaar (visible), gebruik (use) → bruikbaar (usable, useful), dra (carry) → draagbaar (portable).

3. Before a noun: -bare. Like other longer adjectives (see adjective + -e), a -baar adjective adds -e before a noun. The syllable is now open, so one a is enough (see open and closed syllables):

  • Die water is drinkbaar. → drinkbare water
  • Die inligting is bruikbaar. → bruikbare inligting

4. With on-. On- gives the opposite: onsigbaar (invisible), onleesbaar (unreadable), onbetaalbaar (unaffordable, or priceless).

5. Not always -able. Some -baar words come from nouns and have their own meaning: dankbaar (grateful), kosbaar (precious), vrugbaar (fertile). Learn these as words.

Tip: Add -heid for the noun: bruikbaarheid (usefulness).

Examples (6)

  1. Is hierdie sampioene eetbaar?

    Are these mushrooms edible?

    Word by Word: Are these mushrooms edible?

  2. Die water in die rivier is nie drinkbaar nie.

    The water in the river is not drinkable.

    Word by Word: The water in the river is not drinkable not.

  3. Sy handskrif is skaars leesbaar.

    His handwriting is barely readable.

    Word by Word: His handwriting is barely readable.

  4. Die berg is van hier af sigbaar.

    The mountain is visible from here.

    Word by Word: The mountain is from here off visible.

    Sigbaar uses the stem sig-, not sien.

  5. Dankie vir die bruikbare wenke.

    Thanks for the useful tips.

    Word by Word: Thanks for the useful tips.

    Before a noun, bruikbaar becomes bruikbare.

  6. Ons soek 'n betaalbare woonstel.

    We're looking for an affordable flat.

    Word by Word: We seek an affordable flat.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the -e before a noun.

    Ons soek 'n betaalbaar woonstel.
    Ons soek 'n betaalbare woonstel.

    Before a noun a -baar adjective adds -e, and the open syllable is written with one a: betaalbare.

  • Building the word from sien.

    Die berg is van hier af sienbaar.
    Die berg is van hier af sigbaar.

    The -able form of sien uses the stem sig-: sigbaar (visible), onsigbaar (invisible).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-baarLevel 4The -baar Suffix

Learn This First

The suffix -baar makes adjectives, like -lik.