German word

hörbar

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhøːɐ̯baːɐ/

Meaning

  • adjectiveeasy to hear

Example

Die Stimme ist hörbarer als zuvor.

The voice is easier to hear than before.

Illustration for hörbar (easy to hear)

More examples

Im Nebenzimmer war das Flüstern hörbar.

The whispering was audible in the next room.

Core concept

A sound stands out from silence and can be picked up by the ear, whether or not its message is clear.

Common phrases

  • hörbar sein

    be audible

  • hörbar werden

    become audible

Similar words

verständlich: Easy to understand by listening, with the intended meaning clear.
laut: Strong in volume and readily noticeable to the ear.
leise: Soft in volume, making the sound harder to pick up.
deutlich: Distinct in pronunciation or sound, so spoken details are easy to follow.

Definition in German

mit dem Ohr wahrnehmbar

Word origin

Hörbar is formed from hören and -bar; the suffix has the productive sense 'capable of being' in words such as essbar and sichtbar.

Usage tips

  • Laut means loud, not merely audible, so a quiet but clearly detectable sound can be hörbar without being laut.

Other meanings

  • audibleadjective

Opposites

  • unhörbarinaudibleadjective
  • stummsilentadjective

Related words

  • Hörbarkeitaudibilitynoun

Word lists with this word