French Conversation · Level 3
88 words
French word
palpable
Pronunciation
IPA/palpabl/
Meaning
- adjectivepalpable
Example
La bosse est palpable.
The lump can be felt.
More examples
On a remarqué un renflement palpable sur la carrosserie.
A palpable bulge was noticed on the car's body.
Core concept
A physical presence that can be felt directly, or an impression so strong that it seems tangible.
Common phrases
une bosse palpable
a palpable bump
un renflement palpable
a palpable bulge
un relief palpable
a palpable raised area
Similar words
clair: Clear enough to be recognized by sight or hearing.
évident: Obvious and beyond reasonable doubt.
Definition in French
Qui peut être appréhendé par le toucher ou, par extension, dont l'impression est manifestement perceptible.
Word origin
The French adjective palpable comes from Latin palpabilis, related to palpare, 'to touch lightly', and developed from touchable things to unmistakably evident ones.
Usage tips
- Palpable agrees in number but not gender: palpable is used for both masculine and feminine singular nouns, while palpables is plural.
Other meanings
- evidentadjective
- obviousadjective
Opposites
- imperceptibleimperceptibleadjective