Definition
Able to be believed; seeming true or reasonable enough to accept as real or accurate.
Etymology
From 'believe' (from Old English 'belyfan' meaning 'to trust') + the suffix '-able' (capable of being). The adjective form emerged in the 1600s.
Kelly Says
The suffix '-able' is so powerful that you can add it to almost any verb to ask 'is this capable of being done?'—'believe' becomes 'believable,' 'love' becomes 'lovable,' showing English's flexibility!
Translations
BNবাংলা
বিশ্বাসযোগ্য
bishwaash-yoggyo
CACatalà
creïble
KREH-ee-blay
CSČeština
věrohodný
VYEH-roh-hod-nee
DADansk
troværdig
TROH-vahrdikh
DEDeutsch
glaubwürdig
GLOH-bvur-deekh
ELΕλληνικά
πιστευτός
pee-STEH-vtohs
ESEspañol
creíble
KREH-ee-blay
FAفارسی
قابل باور
qaabel-e-bavvar
FISuomi
uskottava
OO-skoh-tah-vah
FRFrançais
croyable
kroh-YAH-bluh
HAHA
mai amana
mah-ee ah-MAH-nah
HIहिन्दी
विश्वसनीय
vishvaas-nee-yah
HUMagyar
hiteles
HEE-teh-lesh
IDBahasa Indonesia
percaya
pehr-CHAH-yah
ITItaliano
credibile
kreh-DEE-blay
JA日本語
信じられる
shin-jirareru
KKKK
сенімді
seh-NEEM-dee
KMKM
អាចជឿជាក់
ah-ch jeh jahk
KO한국어
믿을 수 있는
mid-eul soo iss-neun
MRMR
विश्वासार्ह
vishvaasaarh
MSBahasa Melayu
percaya
pehr-CHAH-yah
MYမြန်မာ
ယုံကြည်ရှိ
yone-kyi-shi
NLNederlands
geloofwaardig
khay-LOH-vahrdikh
NONorsk
troverdig
TROH-vahrdikh
PLPolski
prawdopodobny
PRAH-voh-dohb-nee
PTPortuguês
crível
KREE-vayl
RORomână
credibil
kreh-DEE-bil
RUРусский
достоверный
dah-stoh-VEHR-ny
SVSvenska
trovärdig
TROH-vahrdikh
SWKiswahili
kuaminika
koo-ah-MEE-nee-kah
TAதமிழ்
நம்பகமான
nambakamaana
TEతెలుగు
విశ్వాసపాత్రమైన
vishvaasapaatramaina
THไทย
เชื่อถือได้
cheua theu dai
TLTL
paniniwala
pah-nee-nee-WAH-lah
TRTürkçe
inanılır
ee-NAH-nir
UKУкраїнська
достовірний
doh-stoh-VEER-nee-y
URاردو
قابلِ اعتماد
qaabil-e-etaqaad
VITiếng Việt
tin được
tin dehp
ZUZU
kwaziswa
koo-ZEE-sah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Credibility judgments are gendered: women are systematically rated as less believable in testimony, expertise contexts, and public discourse across documented studies.
Inclusive Usage
When evaluating claims, explicitly separate evidence quality from speaker identity; flag when you're noticing credibility gaps and interrogate source.
Empowerment Note
Women experts are interrupted more, cited less, and disbelieved at equal evidence levels; deliberate amplification of women's expertise counters structural credibility erasure.