English

Alternative forms

• -able (productive)

Suffix

-ible

1. An adjective suffix, now usually in a passive sense; forms adjectives meaning:
   1. able to be
   2. relevant or suitable to, in accordance with
   3. expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense

      convertible

Usage notes

• The form -able is used in the same sense and is pronounced the same.
• Generally not productive in English – most words ending in -ible are borrowed from Latin, or Old or Middle French, while -able is more common for producing new words. Examples of production in English include collectible.
• In general, forms derived from Latin verbs of the second, third, and fourth conjugations take -ible, as well as a few words whose roots end in a soft c or g. All other words take -able, particularly words from the Latin first conjugation, words that evolved through French, and words from Anglo-Saxon.
• Fowler, in his English Usage, recommended using -ible for simplicity in spelling with any verb whose root ends in a soft c or g (such as changible vs. changeable), but this recommendation has generally not been followed.
• Adjectives ending in -ible are occasionally nominalized, as in dirigible, foible, submersible. The adjective sense may become obsolete, as in foible.
• A few words end in “ible” but are not related to this suffix, instead being of different origin, generally a similar Latin suffix. Examples include crucible and mandible. See Etymology 2, below, for details.

Derived terms

• -ibly

Translations

See also

• able
• Category:English unproductive suffixes

Etymology 2

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -i- + -bulum ‎(“instrumental suffix”) or -bula ‎(“instrumental suffix”), from Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom ‎(“instrumental suffix”). Related to Latin suffixes -brum (candelabrum) and -bra (vertebra).

Suffix

-ible

1. An instrumental suffix; forms nouns representing:
   1. a tool or instrument.

      crucible

      mandible

      thurible

   2. a place or location

      vestible

Usage notes

This use of -ible and its related form -able are not productive in English. Confusion may arise from mistaking nouns ending with these suffixes as being forms derived from the adjectival suffixes mentioned in Etymology 1 above.

Derived terms

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin -ibilis.

Suffix

-ible m, f ‎(masculine and feminine plural -ibles)

1. -ible, -able

Usage notes

This suffix is used for verbs of the second and third conjugations, which end in -er, -re or -ir. For the first-conjugation verbs, which end in -ar, the suffix is -able.

Derived terms

French

Etymology

From Latin -ibilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ibl/

Suffix

-ible

1. -ible

Old French

Etymology

From Latin -ibilis.

Suffix

-ible

1. -ible (variant of -able)

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin -ibilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈiβle/

Suffix

-ible

1. -ible

Derived terms

• audible
• comestible
• sensible
• indestructible
• susceptible
• incorrigible
• gullible
• distractible
• resistible