verständig

Verständ ig is a German adjective meaning having understanding or possessing sound judgment. It describes a person as sensible, prudent, or capable of understanding complex ideas. In common usage it can modify nouns such as einen verständigen Mann or eine verständige Entscheidung, emphasizing practical intelligence and reasonable thinking.

In contemporary German, versteht man it as relatively formal or even archaic, and it is less frequent in everyday speech. More common synonyms include vernünftig, klug, and sinnvoll, which convey similar ideas with broader familiarity. Because verständig carries a nuance of discernment, it is more likely to appear in written, historical, or formal contexts than in casual conversation.

Verständig should not be confused with verständlich, which means understandable or comprehensible. The former describes someone’s mental powers or judgment, while the latter describes something that can be understood by others. Distinctions between these words are important for precise usage.

Etymologically, verständig derives from Verstand (understanding) with the suffix -ig, forming an adjective that conveys possession of understanding. The term has roots in older variants of the German language and survives mainly in formal or literary registers today.