unintelligible

Everyday

Unintelligible speech or writing cannot be understood because it is unclear, mumbled, too messy, or in a code or language you do not know. tree →

In the lessons

Used about mumbling, bad phone lines, messy handwriting, noisy announcements, and foreign languages. It tells the reader that the words could not be understood, not that they were wrong.

Examples

• The message on the radio was unintelligible because of the noise. tree →
• His handwriting was almost unintelligible. tree →
• She muttered something unintelligible and went to bed. tree →
• The station announcement was unintelligible over the trains. tree →
• The baby's babble is still unintelligible to visitors. tree →
• The code looked like unintelligible nonsense until we found the key. tree →
• The longer he spoke with the boatmen, the more unintelligible did their language become to him. tree →

Note

Formal word. Opposite: «intelligible» (can be understood). Not about intelligence: an unintelligible person is not stupid; their words just cannot be understood. Similar: «incomprehensible».

In Jewish tradition

In Ezekiel it describes speech in a foreign language that people cannot understand.

Interpretation. God tells Ezekiel he is sent to Israel and not to foreign peoples. Tradition reads this as saying that Israel could understand the message and so was more responsible for heeding it.

Examples

• not to many peoples of an unintelligible speech and of a slow tongue, whose words thou canst not understand. (Prophets EZK.3.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• For thou art not sent to a people of an unintelligible speech and of a slow tongue, but to the house of Israel; (Prophets EZK.3.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Formal word. Opposite: «intelligible» (can be understood). Not about intelligence: an unintelligible person is not stupid; their words just cannot be understood. Similar: «incomprehensible».