Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

intelligible

/ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.77 in modern English

Syllables: in-tel-li-gi-ble
IPA: /ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/

15

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

5

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Capable of being understood; clear to the mind.

Example Sentences

"Italian and Spanish are partially mutually intelligible languages."
"That comment seemed to anger Ingraham, who called James’ view a “barely intelligible, not to mention ungrammatical take on President Trump.”"

Etymology

From Middle French intelligible, from Old French, from Latin intelligibilis.

Word Breakdown

Root: *leǵ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/

Inflected Forms

more intelligible (comparative) most intelligible (superlative)

Derived Forms

intelligibility intelligibleness intelligibly interintelligible unintelligible

Phrases

mutually intelligible

Frequently Paired Words

legible

Synonyms

understandable apprehensible graspable perceivable

Antonyms

unintelligible

Rhymes With

eligible unintelligible

Questions

How do you pronounce intelligible?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/.
What does intelligible mean?: Capable of being understood; clear to the mind.
Where does intelligible come from?: From Middle French intelligible, from Old French, from Latin intelligibilis.

How to pronounce intelligible

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “intelligible”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “intelligible” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.