verständlich

Verständlich is a German adjective meaning understandable or comprehensible. It describes language, explanations, instructions, or behavior that can be grasped easily by a listener, reader, or observer. A statement can be verständlich if its meaning is clear and its logic is easy to follow. In everyday speech, phrases such as “das ist verständlich” or “gut verständlich erklärt” are common.

Etymology and form: The term derives from the verb verstehen (to understand) and is formed with the standard adjectival suffix -lich, yielding verständlich. The noun Verständlichkeit corresponds to “understandability” or “clarity.”

Usage and nuance: Verständlich is frequently used to praise a good explanation or to indicate that something should be easily grasped by a broad audience. It is common in manuals, educational texts, journalism, and public discourse. It coexists with synonyms such as deutlich (clear), klar (clear), and nachvollziehbar (easy to follow). The antonym is unverständlich; related phrases include verständlich erklären (to explain so that it becomes understandable) and verständlich machen (to make it understandable). In the context of plain language, verständlich signals the aim of making information accessible.

Verständlichkeit: The noun form describes the degree of understandability and is often used in discussions of readability, instructional design, and communication quality.