5 syllables: com, pre, hen, si, ble. Stress on hen.
/ˌkɑmpɹiˈhɛnsəbəl/
comprehensible is pronounced /ˌkɑmpɹiˈhɛnsəbəl/. It has five syllables (com-pre-hen-si-ble), with the stress on "hen". Comprehensible describes something that can be understood or grasped; it refers to information or speech that is clear, logical, and easy to follow. It implies that the speaker’s message is accessible to the listener, with sufficient organization, detail, and linguistic clarity to be interpreted without ambiguity.
Say it backComprehensible describes something that can be understood or grasped; it refers to information or speech that is clear, logical, and easy to follow. It implies that the speaker’s message is accessible to the listener, with sufficient organization, detail, and linguistic clarity to be interpreted without ambiguity.
- You: You may drop the stress on the /hen/ syllable in casual speech, producing misalignment with the stressed syllable and making the word sound flat. Solution: rehearse with the rhythm of 3 stressed beats: com-pri-HEN-sə-bəl; clap on the stressed syllable to reinforce timing. - You: You may reduce /ˈhensə/ to /ˈhensə/ with a darker vowel in /ɪ/ due to fast speech; keep the /ɪ/ tight and the /e/ crisp. Practice with speed variations to keep the /e/ distinct. - You: You may connect the /s/ to the following /ə/ too quickly, producing /sə/ as a single sound; separate /s/ from the vowel with a brief pause or clearer release. Use minimal pairs to drill: hens-uh vs hen-suh. - Correction tips: record yourself, compare to reference recordings, and practice with slow-to-fast progression; emphasize the /ˈhen/ part, ensure the final /bəl/ is audible rather than a de-voiced /bəl/.
"The teacher provided a comprehensible explanation of the topic, with step-by-step examples."
"Her handwriting is not always neat, but the overall argument is comprehensible."
"The manual aims to be comprehensible to beginners while still being accurate."
Phonetic guide: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/. Primary stress on the third syllable ‘hen.’ Start with /kɒm/ (co-m) with a rounded back vowel, move to /prɪ/ (pri), then /ˈhen/ (hen) as a tense, short e, and end with /sə/ and /bəl/ with a light, schwa-like /ə/ and a final /bəl/. Think: com-pri-HEN-suh-buhl. Hearing it in context helps: “com-preh-EN-si-ble.” Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford audio pronunciations for listening check.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the wrong syllable (say com-pri-HEN-suh-bəl instead of com-pri- HEN-suh-bəl). 2) Running /hɛn/ into the preceding syllable, producing /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛn.sə/ with a less distinct /ˈhɛn/; instead clearly separate the /h/ and the /ɛn/. 3) Vowel quality mistakes: using a lax /ɪ/ in prɪ rather than a shorter, tighter schwa in unstressed positions; keep /prɪ/ centered. Corrections: emphasize the second vowel cluster: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/ with a crisp /ˈhen/.
Across accents, place emphasis and vowel quality shift subtly: US and UK share the same primary stress pattern: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/. The /ɒ/ in the first syllable can approach /ɒ/ (British) or /ɒ/ (American) but some American speakers may have a broader /ɒ/ or closer to /ɑ/. Australian speakers tend toward a slightly flatter /ɒ/ vowel and quicker overall tempo; the /r/ is non-rhotic in non-American interpretations but the base word avoids /r/ altogether before the syllabic -ble. In US, /ˈkɑm.prɪˈhɛn.sə.bəl/ is possible in casual speech, but the primary, careful form remains /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛn.sə.bəl/.
The difficulty lies in the sequence /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/: a mix of unstressed schwas and a stressed syllable with a tricky 'hen' cluster where /h/ sits between a light /e/ and /n/. The light, clipped /ɪ/ in /prɪ/ can be easy to mispronounce as a full /iː/. The final /bəl/ can soften into /bəl/ or /bl/ in rapid speech. Focus on clearly articulating /ˈhen/ with a short, crisp /e/ and a strong /s/ before the final /ə/ and /bəl/.
Yes: the suffix -ible attaches after a stem that ends with -prehend; ensure the r-then-e sequence across syllables doesn’t fuse: keep the /hɛns/ sequence distinct, not an /hens/ blend. The /m/ into /pr/ should be a firm bilabial stop followed by a light /pr/ release. The second vowel cluster /ɪən/ in some dialects may be perceived as /ɪən/ or /ɛn/ depending on accent; keep it as /ˈhen.sə/ with a clear /ən/ ducked between syllables. This clarity helps intelligibility in connected speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "comprehensible"!
- US: Non-rhoticity is less relevant here because the word contains no post-vocalic r; keep rhotacized vowels minimal, focus on crisp /ɪ/ and /e/; final -ble often realized as /bəl/ with a light schwa. - UK: Maintain crisp /ˈhen/; keep non-rhotic yet ensure /r/ is absent; you may hear a slightly longer /ɒ/ in first syllable. - AU: Tends to be flatter vowels, faster rhythm; keep the /ɒ/ and /ɪ/ distinct, and keep final /əl/ clean; allow a tiny extra vowel length before /bəl/. IPA anchors: US: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/, UK: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/, AU: /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sə.bəl/; slight vowel shifts may occur but the stress pattern remains the same.
Comprehensible comes from the Latin computare ‘to reckon, calculate,’ which evolved through late Latin as comprehensibilis (able to be comprehended), from com- ‘together’ + prehendere ‘to seize, grasp.’ The root prehend- is shared with comprehend and apprehend. The term entered English via scholarly or philosophical discourse in the 16th–17th centuries as an adjective describing things that could be grasped or understood conceptually. Over time, its usage broadened from literal grasp to figurative understanding, retaining a core sense of “capable of being understood” in academic, technical, and everyday contexts. The word’s prefix com- emphasizes totality of understanding, while -ible marks its capability or suitability. The pronunciation and spelling stabilized through standardization in Early Modern English, with the suffix -ible derived from Latin -ibilis, parallel to possible and accessible in English. First known uses appear in dictionaries and scholastic writings of the 1500s–1600s, aligning with the rise of printed grammars that codified clear, understandable language as an ideal in instruction, public discourse, and technical writing. The concept of “comprehensibility” solidified as a key criterion for effective communication, reflecting a shift toward user-friendly language and accessible explanations across disciplines.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "comprehensible" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "comprehensible" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "comprehensible" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "comprehensible"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
