gebrechlich
Translation
frail, feeble, fragile
Examples
Der alte Mann ist sehr gebrechlich.
The old man is very frail.
Das alte Porzellan ist gebrechlich.
The old porcelain is fragile.
Grammar Patterns
((to be)) gebrechlich to be frail/fragile His health is very frail.
Similar Words
Synonyms: schwach, hinfällig; Antonyms: stark, robust, stabil
Etymology
Comes from the verb 'brechen' (to break). The prefix 'ge-' and suffix '-lich' create an adjective meaning 'prone to breaking' or 'breakable'.
Memory Tips
Connect it to 'break'. Something 'gebrechlich' is easily broken, whether it's a person's body (frail) or an object (fragile).