Word: intelligible (adjective)

Associations

The word "intelligible" means something that can be understood clearly. It is often used when talking about speech, writing, or ideas that are easy to comprehend.

• When you speak clearly, your words are intelligible to listeners.
• A well-written essay is intelligible because the ideas are easy to follow.
• Instructions must be intelligible so people can do tasks correctly.

A close synonym is "comprehensible." The difference is small: "intelligible" often focuses on clarity and ease of understanding, while "comprehensible" means something can be understood but doesn't always imply it is clear or simple.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• clear (if you want to emphasize clarity)
• understandable (general meaning of being able to understand)
• comprehensible (formal, similar meaning)

Changing "intelligible" to "clear" makes the meaning a bit simpler and more common in everyday speech.

Deconstruction

• Root: "intellig-" from Latin "intelligere," meaning "to understand."
• Suffix: "-ible," meaning "able to be." So, "intelligible" literally means "able to be understood."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone’s speech was not intelligible? Why was it hard to understand?
• How does making your writing intelligible help others?
• What helps make ideas more intelligible in conversations or writing?