Standard Lemma guide

unlistenable

adj · 1 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.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a sound, quality, or characteristic, that a person cannot listen to for an extended time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: acoustics

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • Many older adults find rap music unlistenable.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English un- English listen 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 listenable English unlistenable From un- + listenable.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kuuntelukelvoton — not suitable for being listened to
  • Finnish: mahdoton kuunnella — not suitable for being listened to
  • French: inaudible — not suitable for being listened to
  • French: inécoutable — not suitable for being listened to
  • Hungarian: hallgathatatlan — not suitable for being listened to
  • Italian: inascoltabile — not suitable for being listened to
  • Polish: nie do słuchania — not suitable for being listened to
  • Romanian: neascultabil — not suitable for being listened to
  • Romanian: de neascultat — not suitable for being listened to