What does speakable mean?
Speakable means that something can be said aloud, put into words, or pronounced clearly. The word is most often used for a language, message, topic, or sound that is suitable or possible for speech. It may also describe a word or expression that can be articulated in a particular way. Speakable is not simply a synonym for pleasant to hear: its basic meaning concerns the possibility of expressing or pronouncing something. The word often contrasts with unspeakable, which describes experiences or ideas that are too painful, profound, disturbing, or otherwise beyond ordinary words. In everyday use, speakable can suggest practical usability, as in a speakable version of a complicated theory or a message that can safely be voiced in public. Its relatively uncommon status gives it a somewhat formal or descriptive tone, but it remains clear and useful when discussing language, communication, and expression.
adjectiveAble to be spoken or expressed in words; sufficiently clear or appropriate to be spoken aloud. It can also mean able to be pronounced in a particular way.
- Able to be spoken or expressed in words.
- Able to be pronounced clearly or in a particular way.
"The message was important, but it was not speakable in a public setting."
"After a few practice rounds, even the longest compound words became speakable."
"The recording contains several technical terms that are not speakable without explanation."
Some truths may be true, yet still be unspeakable: what cannot be voiced can still shape the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does speakable come from?
Speakable was formed in the modern English period by combining speak with the suffix -able, meaning 'capable of being' or 'fit to be'. The older word speak developed within the Germanic language family, with related forms appearing in languages such as Dutch and German. The related English words speech, speaker, and spoken share this Germanic root, although their grammatical roles and histories differ.
How speakable is actually used
The adjective is relatively uncommon and often occurs in the phrase 'speakable language.' It can sound slightly formal or technical, especially when describing a language, message, or pronunciation.
Easily confused with speakable
Speakable means capable of being said or expressed, whereas unspeakable describes something too extreme, painful, or disturbing to put into words.
Speakable is an adjective describing something that can be spoken, while speaking is a verb or noun referring to the act of talking or a form of communication.