Unintelligibly: meaning, definitions and examples

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unintelligibly

[ˌʌnɪnˈtelɪdʒɪbli ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

speaking or writing

In a way that is not able to be understood; incoherently or incomprehensibly.

Synonyms

garbled, incoherently, incomprehensibly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unintelligibly	Similar to 'unintelligibly', but often used redundantly or for emphasis. The announcement was made so unintelligibly that everyone was confused. He grumbled unintelligibly under his breath.
incoherently	Describes speech or text that lacks logical or consistent structure, often associated with emotions or confusion. She spoke so incoherently that I could barely follow her story. In his panic, he started rambling incoherently.
incomprehensibly	Refers to something that is impossible to understand, often describing complex or foreign concepts. The professor's explanation was so advanced that it was incomprehensibly to most of the class. He whispered so softly and quickly, it was incomprehensibly.
garbled	Used to describe speech or text that is confused and distorted, often making it misleading or difficult to understand. The phone connection was poor, resulting in a garbled message. The email content was garbled, causing confusion.

Examples of usage

He mumbled unintelligibly under his breath.
The witness spoke unintelligibly due to her nervousness.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Latin roots, with 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'.
The prefix 'un-' is of Old English origin, meaning 'not', adding to the meaning of something being 'not understandable'.
It entered the English language in the late 19th century, indicating a gradual development of the concept of communication.

Communication Theory

A key concept in communication is clarity; when one speaks unintelligibly, it creates a barrier to effective communication.
Nonverbal cues, such as body language, can help convey meaning even when spoken words are unclear.
In the context of learning languages, speaking unintelligibly can occur when vocabulary or pronunciation is not fully understood.

Psychology

People often find it frustrating to listen to unintelligible speech, which can lead to misunderstandings.
Cognitive load increases when trying to decipher unclear speech, making conversations feel more taxing.
Individuals with hearing impairments may experience unintelligibility more acutely due to background noise or overlapping speech.

Literature

Authors sometimes use unintelligible dialogue to evoke confusion or illustrate a character’s mental state.
Plays and poetry may incorporate unintelligible speech to create comedic or dramatic tension.
Classic literature occasionally features characters who speak in riddles or codified language, making their words unintelligible to others.

Popular Culture

In movies, characters might mumble or speak in a thick accent, creating scenes where they are unintelligible to others.
Music genres like experimental or avant-garde often use unintelligible lyrics to create a specific atmosphere or emotional impact.
Social media sometimes sparks memes around misunderstood lyrics and unintelligible accents, highlighting the fun in miscommunication.

Translations

Translations of the word "unintelligibly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ininteligivelmente

🇮🇳 अस्पष्टता से

🇩🇪 unverständlich

🇮🇩 tak dapat dipahami

🇺🇦 нерозбірливо

🇵🇱 niezrozumiale

🇯🇵 意味不明に

🇫🇷 inintelligiblement

🇪🇸 ininteligiblemente

🇹🇷 anlaşılmaz bir şekilde

🇰🇷 알아들을 수 없게

🇸🇦 بشكل غير مفهوم

🇨🇿 nesrozumitelně

🇸🇰 nezrozumiteľne

🇨🇳 无法理解地

🇸🇮 nerazumljivo

🇮🇸 óskiljanlega

🇰🇿 түсініксіз

🇬🇪 გაუგებრად

🇦🇿 anlaşılmaz şəkildə

🇲🇽 ininteligiblemente

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,405, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

...
38402 altruistically
38403 constipating
38404 impalement
38405 unintelligibly
38406 trollop
38407 unbowed
38408 resealing
...