Words with -able and -ible

Key Notes:-

Understanding Suffixes

In English, suffixes are word parts added to the end of a word to change its meaning. The suffixes and are particularly useful. They both generally mean “able to be” or “capable of being.”

The Suffix -able

-able is a suffix that means “able to be” or “capable of being”. It’s often added to verbs to create adjectives.

Examples:

  • Read + able = Readable (able to be read)
  • Wash + able = Washable (able to be washed)
  • Enjoy + able = Enjoyable (able to be enjoyed)
  • Break + able = Breakable (able to be broken)
  • Adapt + able = Adaptable (able to be adapted)
The Suffix -ible

-ible is another suffix that also means “able to be” or “capable of being”. Like -able, it’s added to verbs to create adjectives. There’s no easy rule to determine when to use -able versus -ible; it often comes down to the word’s origin (Latin, French, etc.) and common usage.

Examples:

  • Sense + ible = Sensible (able to be sensed or understood; showing good judgement)
  • Digest + ible = Digestible (able to be digested)
  • Visible = (able to be seen; note that ‘vis’ means ‘see’ in latin)
  • Possible = (able to be; note that ‘pot’ means ‘power’ in latin)
  • Audible = (able to be heard; note that ‘aud’ means ‘hear’ in latin)
Tips and Tricks
  • When a word ends in a silent ‘e’, drop the ‘e’ before adding -able. (e.g., love becomes lovable).
  • Sometimes the spelling of the root word changes slightly when adding -able or -ible. (e.g. reply becomes reliable).
  • There is no simple definitive rule for whether a root word takes -able or -ible. The best way to learn is through practice and memorization.
Practice Time!

Let’s test your understanding. Add -able or -ible to the following words to create new adjectives:

  1. Accept
  2. Believe
  3. Convert
  4. Defend
  5. Understand

Answers:

  1. Acceptable
  2. Believable
  3. Convertible
  4. Defensible
  5. Understandable
Key Takeaways

-able and -ible are suffixes that mean “able to be” or “capable of being.”

They are typically added to verbs to form adjectives.

While there aren’t strict rules to determine which suffix to use, learning common examples and paying attention to word origins can help.

List of Words with -able and -ible

Let’s practice!

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