-able

View more Miscellaneous videos

1. These two suffixes are derived from Latin endings -abilis and -ibilis, either directly or through Old French. Of the two, -able is an active suffix that can be freely added to the stems of transitive verbs, whereas the set of -ible words is a closed one with meanings that are less susceptible to analysis. A few words exist in both forms (e.g. collectable and collectible); others appear to but differ in meaning (e.g. passable, passible). Most words are formed from verbs, but some are formed from nouns (e.g. comfortable, peaceable).

2. The primary meaning these suffixes convey is 'able to be -ed' or 'capable of being -ed', e.g. bearable, curable, manageable. Some meanings, however, are active rather than passive, e.g. agreeable = willing to agree, changeable = apt to change, comfortable = able to give comfort, viable = able to live. Others, such as reliable, are formed somewhat in defiance of syntax (here, on is suppressed). Many words acquire special meanings, e.g. actionable, appreciable, biddable, creditable, disposable, forgettable, incredible, noticeable, passable, remarkable, reprehensible, tolerable, unspeakable.

3. Some formations require alteration of the stem, since both suffixes begin with a vowel. The most important are:

• Words in -y (preceded by a consonant) change y to i: dutiable, rectifiable, undeniable. But note employable, enjoyable.
• With some exceptions, words in silent -e lose the e when -able is added: adorable, excusable, lovable, losable, removable, usable. But note the preferred forms giveable, hireable, likeable, nameable, rateable, saleable.
• Words in -ce and -ge normally retain the e: bridgeable, changeable, chargeable, noticeable, peaceable.
• Words of more than two syllables ending in -ate lose this ending when -able is added: alienable (not alienatable), appreciable (has special meaning), calculable, demonstrable, estimable (has special meaning), inestimable (has special meaning), penetrable, tolerable. However, words of two syllables would not be viable without the ending and therefore retain it: creatable, debatable, dictatable, locatable, translatable.
• A final consonant is normally doubled when it is doubled in ordinary inflection: biddable, forgettable, regrettable.
• Words of more than one syllable ending in -fer double the r when the stress is on the final syllable, but do not when the stress is earlier in the word: conferrable, deferrable, offerable, preferable, profferable, sufferable (but in transferable the stress is variable on the first two syllables). Infer makes inferable and inferrable, and refer makes referable and referrable.

The following table shows the principal forms in -able and -ible, and also shows forms that are liable to be confused (e.g. impassable and impassible)

words ending in -able

abominable	actionable	adaptable
administrable	admittable (also admissible)	adorable
advisable	agreeable	alienable
amenable	amiable	analysable
appreciable	arguable	ascribable
assessable	atonable	available
bearable	believable	blameable
bribable	bridgeable	calculable
capable	changeable	chargeable
clubbable	collectable	comfortable
conceivable	conferrable	confinable
confusable	consolable	contractable (of a disease; see also contractible)
copiable	creatable	creditable
curable	datable	debatable
declinable	defendable (in literal meanings; see also defensible)	deferable
definable	delineable	demonstrable
demurrable	deniable	desirable
despicable	developable	dilatable
dispensable	disposable	dissolvable
drivable	durable	dutiable
eatable	educable (= able to be educated; see also educible)	endorsable
equable	equitable	evadable
excisable	excitable	excusable
expandable (also expansible)	expendable	expiable
extendable (also extendible, extensible)	feeable	finable
foreseeable	forgettable	forgivable
framable	gettable	giveable
hireable	illimitable	immovable
immutable	impalpable	impassable (= unable to be crossed; see also impassible)
impeccable	imperturbable	implacable
impressionable	improvable	indefatigable
indescribable	indispensable	indubitable
inflatable	inimitable	insufferable
irreconcilable	irreplaceable	justifiable
knowledgeable	laughable	leviable
likeable	liveable	losable
lovable	machinable	malleable
manageable	manoeuvrable	marriageable
measurable	mistakable	movable
mutable	nameable	noticeable
objectionable	obtainable	operable
palatable	payable	peaceable
penetrable	perishable	permeable
persuadable (also persuasible)	pleasurable	preferable
prescribable	preventable	pronounceable
provable	rateable	readable
receivable	reconcilable	rectifiable
registrable	regrettable	reliable
removable	reputable	retractable
saleable	scalable	serviceable
sizeable	solvable	statutable
storable	suitable	superannuable
timeable	tolerable	traceable
tradable	transferable	tuneable
unconscionable	undeniable	unexceptionable
unget-at-able	unknowable	unmistakable
unscalable	unshakeable	usable

words ending in -ible

accessible	adducible	admissible (also admittable)
audible	avertible	collapsible
comprehensible	contemptible	contractible (= able to be shrunk; see also contractable)
convertible	credible	deducible
deductible	defensible (of an argument etc.; see also defendable)	destructible
diffusible	digestible	dirigible
discernible	discussible	dismissible
divisible	educible (= able to be educed; see also educable)	eligible
exhaustible	expansible	expressible
extendible (also extendable, extensible)	feasible	flexible
gullible	impassible (= unfeeling; see also impassable)	inaudible
incorrigible	incredible	indelible
indigestible	indivisible	infallible
inflexible	intangible	invincible
invisible	irascible	irreducible
irrepressible	irresponsible	irresistible
irreversible	legible	negligible
ostensible	perceptible	perfectible
permissible	persuasible (also persuadable)	plausible
reducible	reprehensible	reproducible
resistible	responsible	reversible
risible	suggestible	suppressible
susceptible

Next:

-ade, -ae, -as, -aholic

For a list of words related to -ible, see:

• Suffixes - -ible: variation of -able (horrible)

---

Dansk (Danish)
suff. - -abel

Français (French)
suff. - (suff.) capable de, qui convient à, approprié à, digne de

Deutsch (German)
suff. - bezeichnet Fähigkeit oder Machbarkeit, ...bar, ...sam

Ελληνική (Greek)
suff. - ικανός, άξιος, επιτήδειος, -ιμος, -ήσιμος, -τος (κατάλληλος για, άξιος, που μπορεί να)

Español (Spanish)
suff. - -able

Svenska (Swedish)
suff. - -abel

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
能...的, 可以...的, 有...倾向的, 适于...的, ...有特性的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
suff. - 能...的, 可以...的, 有...傾向的, 適於...的, ...有特性的

한국어 (Korean)
suff. - ~할 수 있는

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(اخر الكلمه) لاحقه معناه قابل ل , أو عرضه ل , أو صالح ل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
suff. - ‮(סופית) ניתן ל-‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.