Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Comprehensible'

English Word: comprehensible

Key Russian Translations:

• понятный [ˈponʲatnɨj] - [Formal, Informal]
• вразумительный [vrɐzuˈmʲitʲɪlnɨj] - [Formal]
• доступный [dɐˈstupnɨj] - [Informal, Often used for accessibility of understanding]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in both spoken and written contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "понятный"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "вразумительный" and "доступный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

понятный: [ˈponʲatnɨj]

Note on понятный: Stress falls on the first syllable, a common pattern for adjectives in Russian. The "я" is pronounced as a soft vowel.

вразумительный: [vrɐzuˈmʲitʲɪlnɨj]

Note on вразумительный: Stress on the third syllable; the consonant cluster "вр" can be tricky for non-native speakers.

доступный: [dɐˈstupnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Easy to understand (general clarity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• понятный - Used in most general contexts to describe something clear or understandable.
• доступный - Often implies something is approachable or easy to grasp, especially in educational or explanatory contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот текст очень понятный для студентов.

  This text is very comprehensible for students.

• Его объяснение было доступным даже для детей.

  His explanation was comprehensible even to children.

• Мне нужен более понятный ответ на этот вопрос.

  I need a more comprehensible answer to this question.

2. Intelligible or rational (formal or logical clarity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вразумительный - Used in formal contexts to describe something logically clear or well-articulated.

Usage Examples:

• Он не смог дать вразумительного объяснения своим действиям.

  He couldn’t provide a comprehensible explanation for his actions.

• Её аргументы были вразумительными и убедительными.

  Her arguments were comprehensible and convincing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

понятный (adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective declension rules.

вразумительный (adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "понятный."

доступный (adjective): Also declines like a standard adjective; no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• ясный (clear)
• очевидный (obvious)
• разборчивый (legible, clear - often for speech or writing)

Note: "ясный" is broader and can refer to weather or ideas, while "разборчивый" is often used for handwriting or speech clarity.

Antonyms:

• непонятный (incomprehensible)
• запутанный (confusing)

Related Phrases:

• понятный язык - clear language (used to describe simple, straightforward communication)
• доступное объяснение - comprehensible explanation (often in teaching or instruction contexts)
• вразумительный ответ - intelligible answer (used in formal or serious discussions)

Usage Notes:

• "понятный" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "comprehensible" and can be applied in both formal and informal contexts.
• "доступный" often carries a nuance of accessibility, implying that something is within reach of understanding, especially for a broader audience.
• "вразумительный" is more formal and often used when clarity is tied to logical reasoning or articulation; it is less common in casual speech.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian: the form must match the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "доступный" to mean "available" in contexts unrelated to understanding.
  Incorrect: Этот магазин доступный. (Intending to say "This store is available.")
  Correct: Этот магазин открыт. ("This store is open.")
  Explanation: "доступный" relates to intellectual accessibility, not physical availability.
• Error: Misusing adjective endings due to gender/case mismatch.
  Incorrect: Эта книга понятный.
  Correct: Эта книга понятная.
  Explanation: "книга" (book) is feminine, so the adjective must take the feminine form "понятная."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian communication, clarity and directness are highly valued, especially in formal or educational settings. Using terms like "понятный" or "вразумительный" can signal respect for the listener's need for clear information. Additionally, "доступный" is often used in modern contexts to describe user-friendly content or technology, reflecting a growing influence of global digital culture.

Related Concepts:

• ясность (clarity)
• простота (simplicity)
• логичность (logicality)