Difference Between Able & Ible

Able and -ible are two suffixes commonly used to complete words in the English language. They may be confusing for non-native speakers, but there are basic rules that differentiate between words that use either suffix.

Key Takeaways

• Most Latin roots are completed with -ible.
• When the root is a complete word making sense, the suffix -able is used.
• When the root is complex and doesn’t make a word in itself, -ible is the suffix used.

In English, there are hundreds of words ending in either -able or -ible, making it difficult for people to remember which spelling is right. The point to remember is that most Latin roots are completed with -ible. Another rule that is simpler to remember is that when the root is a complete word making sense, it is the suffix -able that is used, while when the root is complex and does not make a word in itself, -ible is the suffix that is used. Let us understand with the help of examples.

able

Take the case of words like comfort, depend, afford, wash, etc. It can be seen that these are complete English words, and by adding -able at the end of these words, we make new words indicating the ability of the person or object. So, the new word comfortable can be used for a fabric, car, or any other gadget used by us. Similarly, washable indicates the ability of a jacket, jeans, shirt, or any other garment to be washed in a washing machine. This is also the suffix that is used for all new words that get added to the dictionary with each passing year.

ible

As explained earlier, -ible is the suffix that is used at the end of words that are Latin or do not make a complete word in themselves. There are a few exceptions to this rule; for example, suggestible, flexible, digestible, etc. Once you take the suffix away, the root will not be a complete word making sense in most of the cases. For example, gullible, possible, visible, terrible, credible, fallible, tangible, etc.

What is the difference between -able and -ible?

• -able is the suffix that, when added to a word, implies “Can Do.”
• When this suffix is removed, the root is a standalone word.
• -ible is mostly used with Latin roots that do not make a complete word in themselves.