English vocabulary · C1
Intelligible
/ɪnˈtel.ə.dʒə.bəl/ · adj.
Intelligible speech is easy to understand. Each word sounds right. You know exactly what the speaker says without asking again.
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Example sentences
- Her words were intelligible.
- The pilot sounded intelligible.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- intelligibilis — understandable (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- CLEAR — easy to understand (Easy To Follow)
- PLAIN — not hard to follow (Simple And Direct)
- SIMPLE — not hard to understand (Easy Form)
Similar words
- clear
- plain
- simple
- readable
- coherent
Lesson notes
Intelligible speech is easy to understand. Each word sounds right. You know exactly what the speaker says without asking again.
Related: clear, plain, simple. Use intelligible when words make sense.
Her words were intelligible. The pilot sounded intelligible.
From Latin. Intelligibilis- means understandable. A voice becomes understandable, and English calls it intelligible.