Standard Lemma guide

palatable

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈpæl.ə.tə.bəl/
  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P AE1 L AH0 T AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Pleasing to the taste, tasty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • For some instant noodles make a palatable, if not especially nutritious, meal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ambrosial, appetizing, dainty, delectable, delicious, delish, exquisite, finger-lickin' good, flavorful, flavorous, flavorsome, gustful, lekker, lickerish, lip-smacking, luscious, moreish, mouthwatering, nummy, ono, palatable, sapid, savory, scrummy, tasteful, tasty, toothful, toothsome, yummy

Antonyms: unpalatable

2

adj

Meaning 2

Tolerable, acceptable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • The agreement was palatable to both of them.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

acceptable to the taste or mind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • palatable food
  • a palatable solution to the problem

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: toothsome

Antonyms: unpalatable

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleth2-? Proto-Indo-European *pel-? Proto-Indo-European *pleh2-osder. Latin palātumder. Old French palatbor. Middle English palate English palate Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English palatable From palate + -able.

Across languages

Translations

61 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: ախորժահամ (axoržaham) — pleasing to the taste
  • Bulgarian: вкусен (vkusen) — pleasing to the taste
  • Bulgarian: апетитен (apetiten) — pleasing to the taste
  • Czech: dobrý — pleasing to the taste
  • Danish: velsmagende — pleasing to the taste
  • Dutch: smaakvol — pleasing to the taste
  • Dutch: lekker — pleasing to the taste
  • Finnish: maukas — pleasing to the taste
  • Finnish: maittava — pleasing to the taste
  • Finnish: makoisa — pleasing to the taste
  • French: bon — pleasing to the taste
  • French: plaisant au gout — pleasing to the taste
  • French: appétant — pleasing to the taste
  • German: genießbar — pleasing to the taste
  • German: schmackhaft — pleasing to the taste
  • Hindi: स्वादिष्ट (svādiṣṭ) — pleasing to the taste
  • Hungarian: ízletes — pleasing to the taste
  • Māori: apuapu — pleasing to the taste
  • Māori: kakato — pleasing to the taste
  • Polish: dobry — pleasing to the taste
  • Polish: smaczny — pleasing to the taste
  • Portuguese: palatável — pleasing to the taste
  • Portuguese: saboroso — pleasing to the taste
  • Portuguese: gostoso — pleasing to the taste
  • Russian: прия́тный (prijátnyj) — pleasing to the taste
  • Russian: вку́сный (vkúsnyj) — pleasing to the taste
  • Spanish: sabroso — pleasing to the taste
  • Spanish: apetecible — pleasing to the taste
  • Spanish: comible — pleasing to the taste
  • Spanish: paladeable — pleasing to the taste
  • Swedish: smaklig — pleasing to the taste
  • Armenian: ընդունելի (ənduneli) — tolerable, acceptable
  • Bulgarian: приемлив (priemliv) — tolerable, acceptable
  • Czech: přijatelný — tolerable, acceptable
  • Danish: spiselig — tolerable, acceptable
  • Danish: acceptabel — tolerable, acceptable
  • Dutch: aanvaardbaar — tolerable, acceptable
  • Dutch: acceptabel — tolerable, acceptable
  • Finnish: hyväksyttävä — tolerable, acceptable
  • French: passable — tolerable, acceptable
  • French: tolérable — tolerable, acceptable
  • French: acceptable — tolerable, acceptable
  • German: annehmbar — tolerable, acceptable
  • German: akzeptabel — tolerable, acceptable
  • German: zufriedenstellend — tolerable, acceptable
  • Hindi: रुचिकर (rucikar) — tolerable, acceptable
  • Italian: accettabile — tolerable, acceptable
  • Portuguese: palatável — tolerable, acceptable
  • Portuguese: tolerável — tolerable, acceptable
  • Portuguese: aceitável — tolerable, acceptable
  • Portuguese: razoável — tolerable, acceptable
  • Russian: терпи́мый (terpímyj) — tolerable, acceptable
  • Russian: прие́млемый (prijémlemyj) — tolerable, acceptable
  • Serbo-Croatian: prijemčiv — tolerable, acceptable
  • Serbo-Croatian: prihvatljiv — tolerable, acceptable
  • Serbo-Croatian: svarljiv — tolerable, acceptable
  • Spanish: aceptable — tolerable, acceptable
  • Spanish: agradable — tolerable, acceptable
  • Spanish: tolerable — tolerable, acceptable
  • Spanish: paladeable — tolerable, acceptable
  • Swedish: godtagbar — tolerable, acceptable