compréhensible

Compréhensible is a French adjective meaning capable of being understood; it describes ideas, explanations, texts, or communication that can be grasped by a reader or listener. It is often used to assess clarity and accessibility in education, writing, and discourse.

Etymology and form: the word comes from the verb comprendre (to understand) plus the suffix -ible, which derives from Latin -ibilis. The result is a term that denotes the quality of being understandable. Its antonym is incompréhensible (unintelligible).

Usage and nuances: compréhensible emphasizes that content can be grasped with reasonable effort, often through clear expression or careful presentation. It is commonly contrasted with incompréhensible, which signals that something cannot be understood. Related terms include intelligible (closer to mental grasp or logical clarity) and lisible (legible in the sense of readable text). The expression "rendre quelque chose compréhensible" highlights the act of making material accessible to an audience.

Examples: Le tutoriel est parfaitement compréhensible pour les débutants. L’explication était confuse et peu compréhensible. Ce texte vise à être le plus compréhensible possible afin d’éviter les ambiguïtés. Dans les domaines académiques et professionnels, l’évaluation de la compréhensibilité des documents peut inclure des tests de lisibilité et des retours d’utilisateurs.

See also: incompréhensible, intelligible, lisible, clarté.