unhörbar

Unhörbar is a German adjective meaning inaudible. It is formed from un- (not) and hörbar (hearable) and is used to describe sounds or signals that fall outside the range of human perception or are not perceived under given conditions. In general use, unhörbar refers to anything that cannot be heard by the average listener.

In scientific and technical contexts, inaudibility relates to the limits of human hearing. The typical audible range for healthy young listeners spans roughly from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Sounds with frequencies below about 20 Hz are described as infrasonic, while those above about 20 kHz are ultrasonic and not detectable by normal hearing. In psychoacoustics, inaudibility can also result from low amplitude, brief duration, masking by louder sounds, or other perceptual factors that prevent conscious awareness of a sound.

In music and sound art, unhörbar is sometimes invoked as a concept rather than a literal absence of sound. Artists may explore sub-threshold textures, subtle spatial cues, or the idea that silence and inaudible layers can influence perception and emotion. This usage emphasizes the relationship between what is heard and what is perceived, and it can challenge listeners to consider how much of a composition exists beyond conscious listening.

In everyday language, unhörbar serves as a straightforward descriptor for anything that cannot be heard due to distance, attenuation, or quietness. Related concepts include threshold of hearing, inaudible, infrasonic, ultrasonic, and psychoacoustics.