§ "Incompréhensible" vs. "difficile à comprendre"
Many English speakers learning French tend to overuse "incompréhensible" when they actually mean something is just "difficult to understand." While these phrases might seem similar, they carry different weights in French. "Incompréhensible" means something is absolutely impossible to grasp, with no way to make sense of it. Think of a complex mathematical equation without any explanation, or a language you've never heard before. It's beyond your capacity to comprehend.
Le discours du professeur était incompréhensible sans les notes. (The professor's speech was incomprehensible without the notes.)
On the other hand, "difficile à comprendre" simply means something requires effort to understand. It's challenging, but not impossible. Perhaps you need to read a text a few times, look up some vocabulary, or ask for clarification. It's within your reach with a bit of extra work.
Ce concept est difficile à comprendre, mais pas impossible. (This concept is difficult to understand, but not impossible.)
§ Using "incompréhensible" with emotions
Another common mistake is to use "incompréhensible" to describe emotions or behaviors that you find strange or illogical. While you might *not understand* why someone is acting a certain way, their behavior isn't usually "incompréhensible" in the literal sense of being impossible to grasp. Instead, you'd use phrases like "étrange" (strange), "bizarre" (weird), or "illogique" (illogical) to describe such situations.
- Incorrect usage
- Son comportement était incompréhensible. (Her behavior was incomprehensible.)
While grammatically correct, this sounds very strong, almost like her behavior defied all known logic or human understanding. More likely, you mean it was just unusual or you couldn't figure out her motivation.
- Better alternatives
- Son comportement était étrange. (Her behavior was strange.)
- Je ne comprends pas son comportement. (I don't understand her behavior.)
- C'est illogique. (It's illogical.)
§ Gender and number agreement with "incompréhensible"
Remember that "incompréhensible" is an adjective, and like most French adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. While "incompréhensible" ends in an 'e', making its masculine and feminine singular forms the same, you still need to add an 's' for plural nouns.
- Singular
- Le texte est incompréhensible. (The text is incomprehensible.)
La phrase est incompréhensible. (The sentence is incomprehensible.) - Plural
- Les textes sont incompréhensibles. (The texts are incomprehensible.)
Les phrases sont incompréhensibles. (The sentences are incomprehensible.)
Forgetting this agreement is a common oversight, especially at the A2 level. Pay attention to the noun's form before using the adjective.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine trying to read a complicated 'income statement' that's so confusing it's **incomprehensible**.
Visual Association
Picture a tangled ball of yarn or a messy knot that's impossible to untangle – that's how something **incompréhensible** feels.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe a time you found something **incompréhensible** in French. For example: 'Le film était **incompréhensible** sans sous-titres.' (The movie was incomprehensible without subtitles.)
Test Yourself 12 questions
Imagine you tried to read a very complicated instruction manual in French. Describe in French why it was difficult to understand.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ce manuel était incompréhensible. C'était très difficile à lire parce qu'il y avait trop de mots techniques.
Your friend is learning French and heard a song. They didn't understand it. Write a short message to them in French, using 'incompréhensible' to describe the song.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Salut! J'ai écouté la chanson, et c'était un peu incompréhensible pour moi aussi. Ne t'inquiète pas, c'est normal!
Describe a situation where someone's explanation was 'incompréhensible' to you. Write 1-2 sentences in French.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Son explication était totalement incompréhensible. Je n'ai pas compris ce qu'il voulait dire.
Pourquoi la leçon était-elle difficile pour l'élève?
Read this passage:
Mon professeur a expliqué la grammaire, mais pour moi, c'était totalement incompréhensible. Je n'ai rien compris de sa leçon. J'ai besoin d'aide pour comprendre ces règles.
Pourquoi la leçon était-elle difficile pour l'élève?
The passage states, 'pour moi, c'était totalement incompréhensible' (for me, it was totally incomprehensible), referring to the grammar explanation.
The passage states, 'pour moi, c'était totalement incompréhensible' (for me, it was totally incomprehensible), referring to the grammar explanation.
Qu'est-ce qui était incompréhensible pour la personne?
Read this passage:
J'ai regardé un film français sans sous-titres. Les dialogues étaient très rapides et je trouvais tout incompréhensible. J'ai dû arrêter le film après dix minutes.
Qu'est-ce qui était incompréhensible pour la personne?
The passage says, 'Les dialogues étaient très rapides et je trouvais tout incompréhensible' (The dialogues were very fast and I found everything incomprehensible).
The passage says, 'Les dialogues étaient très rapides et je trouvais tout incompréhensible' (The dialogues were very fast and I found everything incomprehensible).
Pourquoi les directions étaient-elles incompréhensibles?
Read this passage:
Mon ami a essayé de me donner des directions pour aller à sa maison, mais il parlait très vite et utilisait des mots que je ne connaissais pas. Ses directions étaient incompréhensibles, et je me suis perdu.
Pourquoi les directions étaient-elles incompréhensibles?
The passage clearly states, 'il parlait très vite et utilisait des mots que je ne connaissais pas. Ses directions étaient incompréhensibles.' (he spoke very fast and used words I didn't know. His directions were incomprehensible).
The passage clearly states, 'il parlait très vite et utilisait des mots que je ne connaissais pas. Ses directions étaient incompréhensibles.' (he spoke very fast and used words I didn't know. His directions were incomprehensible).
Le nouveau roman de cet auteur est si dense et abstrait qu'il en devient presque ___.
The context implies the novel is difficult to understand, so 'incompréhensible' fits best.
Face à la complexité de cette théorie scientifique, beaucoup la jugent ___ pour le commun des mortels.
If the theory is complex, it's likely seen as 'incompréhensible' by most people.
Ses explications étaient si embrouillées que le sens de son message est resté totalement ___.
Confused explanations lead to an 'incompréhensible' message.
Après avoir écouté ses arguments pendant des heures, je dois avouer que sa position me semble toujours ___.
If, after hours of listening, the position still isn't clear, it's 'incompréhensible'.
La décision du gouvernement, sans aucune justification claire, a été perçue comme ___ par l'opinion publique.
A decision without clear justification would be 'incompréhensible' to the public.
Le professeur a présenté une démonstration si abstraite que de nombreux étudiants l'ont trouvée ___.
An abstract demonstration would likely be 'incompréhensible' to many students.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
More emotions words
à contrecœur
B1Against one's will; reluctantly.
à fleur de peau
B1Oversensitive; easily affected emotionally.
à la fois
B1At the same time; simultaneously.
à l'aise
A2Feeling comfortable, relaxed, or at ease.
à regret
B1With regret; reluctantly.
abandon
B1The action or fact of abandoning someone or something; abandonment (can be emotional).
abasourdi
B1Stunned, dumbfounded, greatly astonished or shocked.
abattement
A2A state of extreme dejection; despondency.
abattu
A2In low spirits; disheartened; dejected.
abominable
B1Causing moral revulsion; detestable.
