Learn Dutch: We kopen steeds meer herbruikbare flessen. - We are buying more and more reusable bottles.

The suffix -baar means "-able" (indicating potential or ability). The core of the word comes from gebruiken (to use). The prefix her- means "re-" or "again". Put together, her- + bruik + baar literally means "able to be used again", or "reusable".

Since the verb is gebruiken, why isn't it hergebruikbare?

While the verb "to reuse" is indeed hergebruiken, Dutch often drops the unstressed ge- prefix when forming adjectives with -baar to make the word flow better. Therefore, herbruikbaar is the standard, most natural-sounding form, though you might occasionally hear hergebruikbaar.

Why does the spelling change from -baar to -bare with only one 'a'?

Because it comes right before the plural noun flessen, the adjective needs the -e ending. Adding this -e creates an open syllable (ba-re). By Dutch spelling rules, we drop one 'a' to keep the long vowel sound without double-spelling it.

How does steeds meer translate to "more and more"?