-bar

Adjective Suffix -bar

Level 4

The suffix -bar is added to verbs or nouns to create adjectives. It usually translates to the English -able or -ible, indicating that something can be done (e.g., flytbar = movable) or has a specific trait (e.g., strafbar = punishable).

How It Works

The suffix -bar is a powerful tool for expanding your Danish vocabulary, particularly in formal, technical, or legal contexts.

1. Formation from Verbs
To form an adjective from a verb, you typically take the verb stem (the imperative form) and add -bar. This usually applies to transitive verbs (verbs that take an object).

  • at bruge (to use) → brugbar (useful/usable)
  • at flytte (to move) → flytbar (movable)

2. Formation from Nouns
While less common than the verbal form, -bar can attach to nouns to mean 'possessing' or 'yielding' that noun.

  • frugt (fruit) → frugtbar (fruitful/fertile)
  • straf (punishment) → strafbar (punishable)

3. Inflection
Adjectives ending in -bar follow standard adjective agreement rules:

  • Common gender: -bar (en brugbar løsning)
  • Neuter gender: -bart (et brugbart værktøj)
  • Plural/Definite: -bare (de brugbare værktøjer)

4. -bar vs. -lig
Learners often confuse -bar with -lig. While both can mean '-able', -bar is often more technical or literal. For example, læselig means handwriting is clear enough to read (legible), while læsbar often refers to whether a digital file can be read by a computer or if a text is intellectually accessible.

Examples (5)

  1. Denne mælk er kun holdbar i tre dage.

    This milk is only good (durable/keepable) for three days.

    Word by Word: This milk is only keep-able in three days.

    'Holdbar' comes from 'at holde' (to keep/hold) and is a very common way to describe shelf life.

  2. Det er en strafbar handling at stjæle.

    It is a punishable act to steal.

    Word by Word: It is a punish-able act to steal.

    'Strafbar' is formed from the noun 'straf' (punishment).

  3. Er dokumentet læsbart på din computer?

    Is the document readable on your computer?

    Word by Word: Is the document read-able on your computer?

    Note the neuter ending '-t' because 'dokument' is a neuter noun (et dokument).

  4. Vi har brug for nogle brugbare resultater.

    We need some useful results.

    Word by Word: We have need for some use-able results.

    Here '-bare' is used because 'resultater' is plural.

  5. Jorden er meget frugtbar her.

    The soil is very fertile here.

    Word by Word: The earth is very fruit-able here.

    'Frugtbar' (fruitful/fertile) is a classic example of -bar attached to a noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -bar for 'edible'.

    Er denne svamp spisbar?
    Er denne svamp spiselig?

    While -bar is productive, some words have fixed forms using -lig. 'Spiselig' is the standard word for edible, not 'spisbar'.

  • Forgetting the neuter -t ending.

    Forslaget er ikke brugbar.
    Forslaget er ikke brugbart.

    Since 'forslag' is a neuter noun (et forslag), the adjective must agree by adding a -t.

How It Connects

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

-barLevel 4Adjective Suffix -bar

Learn This First

The suffix -bar is a derivational ending used to turn verbs into adjectives, similar to the English suffix '-able'. To use these words correctly, you need to understand how to identify verb roots and how to apply standard adjective endings (agreement) to the resulting word.

Words in This Pattern

-bar