suitable / fit
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suitable
Suitable, appropriate, or usable for a particular purpose, requirement, or situation.
Nach dem Unfall war das Fahrrad nicht mehr alltagstauglich.
After the accident, the bicycle was no longer suitable for everyday use.
The adjective 'tauglich' (suitable/fit) is derived from the verb 'taugen', which means 'to be good for something' or 'to be suitable'. If something 'taugt' (is good for something), it is 'tauglich' (suitable).
Dieses alte Werkzeug taugt nicht mehr viel.
This old tool is not good for much anymore.
To indicate the purpose or requirement for which something is suitable, 'tauglich' (suitable) is almost always used with the preposition 'für' (for) and the accusative.
Diese Schuhe sind nicht für eine lange Wanderung tauglich.
These shoes are not suitable for a long hike.
'Tauglich' (suitable) is often used as the second part of compound adjectives to describe suitability for a specific area. Examples are 'alltagstauglich' (suitable for everyday use), 'familientauglich' (family-friendly/suitable for families), or 'wintertauglich' (suitable for winter).
Wir suchen ein familientaugliches Auto mit viel Platz.
We are looking for a family-friendly car with lots of space.
The meaning 'suitable for military service' is very specific. You can recognize it from words like 'Musterung' (military medical examination), 'Wehrdienst' (military service), or 'Militär' (military). The opposite in this context is 'untauglich' (unfit).
Nach der ärztlichen Untersuchung wurde er als untauglich eingestuft.
After the medical examination, he was classified as unfit.
suitable
'geeignet' and 'tauglich' are similar because both can say that something fits a purpose or meets a requirement. 'geeignet' is more general and very common in everyday language: a person, place, or method can be 'geeignet'. 'tauglich' often sounds somewhat more technical or evaluative. It means that something is usable or meets the necessary conditions. Its use is especially fixed in expressions like 'wehrdiensttauglich' (fit for military service). Learners may confuse the words, but 'geeignet' fits more naturally in more situations.
Nach der Untersuchung wurde er als diensttauglich eingestuft.
After the examination, he was classified as fit for service.
Der Raum ist für eine kleine Familienfeier gut geeignet.
The room is well suited for a small family celebration.