/ˌʌndɚˈstændəbəl/
understandable is pronounced /ˌʌndɚˈstændəbəl/. Understandable means clear enough to be understood; something that can be easily comprehended or explained. It describes information or speech that listeners can grasp without confusion, often due to straightforward structure, familiar vocabulary, or smooth delivery. The term emphasizes accessibility of content or expression to a broad audience.
Say it backUnderstandable means clear enough to be understood; something that can be easily comprehended or explained. It describes information or speech that listeners can grasp without confusion, often due to straightforward structure, familiar vocabulary, or smooth delivery. The term emphasizes accessibility of content or expression to a broad audience.
"His explanation was clear and understandable, even to beginners."
"The teacher provided understandable instructions that everyone could follow."
"We kept the language simple to make the concept understandable."
Say it as /ˌən.dərˈstæn.də.bəl/ in US and UK IPA. The primary stress is on the third syllable STAN, with secondary stress on the second syllable ‘dər’. Start with a light, quick 'uhn' (schwa + n), then 'dər' as a rhotacized schwa, 'STAN' with a clear æ, 'də' as a muted schwa, and end with 'bəl' with a light, almost 'uhl' sound. Audio examples on Pronounce or Forvo match this rhythm: un-der-STAN-da-ble.
Common mistakes: over-softening the stressed 'STAN' or inserting an extra syllable. Some speakers misplace the primary stress, saying un-der-STAN-dable with wrong rhythm, or pronounce the final -able as 'ah-bull' rather than 'ə-bəl'. Correction: keep the main stress on STAN, 'un-der' as unstressed, and end with a short, reduced '-bəəl' or '-bəːl' depending on accent. Practice saying /ˌən.dərˈstæn.də.bəl/ slowly, then speed up while maintaining the stress pattern.
In US: rhotic /ɹ/ in 'er' cluster; the 'stan' vowel has æ; final -able tends to /-əbəl/ with schwa. In UK: non-rhotic linked to weaker r; /ˌən.dəˈstɑːn.də.bəl/ or /ˌən.dəˈstæn.də.bəl/, depending on speaker; 'stan' uses æ or ɑː, and final -ble often reduces to /-bəl/. In AU: similar to UK with a flatter intonation; Vowel quality in the first unstressed syllables often reduced toward /ə/; /ˌən.dəˈstændə.bəl/ is possible in careful speech. Always listen for stress on STAN and keep the 'd' sound crisp across accents.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllabic structure with three unstressed-initial syllables and a stressed mid-syllable cluster /ˈstæn.də/; and the consecutive consonant cluster in 'st' + 'nd' followed by 'ə' reducing into /də/. The 'er' in 'under' also requires a short, mid-central vowel that can slide into 'dər' for fluent rhythm. Focus on keeping the STAN syllable strongly stressed while linking 'der' and 'da' with light, quick movements to avoid breaking the word's cadence.
No, all letters contribute to pronunciation in Standard English. The 'd' in 'under' is pronounced, as is the final 'e' in '-able' which influences the 'ə' and 'l' sounds, though in rapid speech the ending can be a lighter /-bəəl/ with a barely audible final l. The central idea is to maintain the primary stress on STAN and ensure each of the three unstressed syllables remains quick and light.
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Understandable derives from the verb understand, which comes from Old English inderstandian, a blend of under- (in the sense of 'among, among in the sense of 'among' or 'between') and standan (to stand). The modern form understand is attested in the 8th century with the sense of grasping or comprehending. The suffix -able originates from Latin -abilis via Old French -able, signaling capability. Over time, understandable emerged in English as an adjective meaning ‘capable of being understood,’ especially when referring to speech, explanations, or concepts that are easy to grasp. The combined form pressures the idea that something can “stand under” an idea or be supported by clarity, therefore making it digestible for the listener. The word’s usage broadened into educational, technical, and everyday contexts as English expanded its educational and communicative expectations, with attestations in the 18th and 19th centuries in printed texts. Today, understandable is commonly used in both formal and informal registers to indicate accessibility of information or discourse, often in contrast to more complex or opaque language.
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Words that rhyme with "understandable"
-ble sounds
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