Explanation at your level:
You use comfortable when you feel good. If a chair is soft, it is comfortable. If your bed is nice, it is comfortable. You are comfortable when you are happy and not tired.
We use comfortable for things that feel good on our body, like soft clothes or a warm room. We also use it to say we feel relaxed with other people. For example, 'I feel comfortable talking to my teacher.'
At this level, you can use comfortable to describe situations. You might say, 'I am comfortable with this plan,' meaning you agree and feel no stress. It is a very useful word for expressing your personal feelings in everyday life.
Comfortable can also describe a lifestyle. 'A comfortable income' means you have enough money to live well. It is often used to contrast with 'challenging' or 'difficult' situations, showing a state of stability and ease.
In advanced English, comfortable can imply a sense of familiarity or mastery. If you are 'comfortable with a complex topic,' it means you understand it thoroughly and can handle it without difficulty. It suggests a lack of friction in your interaction with the subject matter.
Historically, the term has evolved from providing 'strength' to providing 'ease.' In literary contexts, it may be used to describe an environment that is aesthetically pleasing and emotionally soothing. It captures the nuance of being completely at home in one's surroundings or intellect.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Describes physical ease.
- Describes mental peace.
- Very common adjective.
- Has many synonyms like cozy.
When we say something is comfortable, we are usually talking about how it makes our body or mind feel. Think of your favorite pair of old sneakers or the softest sofa in your living room; those are comfortable because they don't cause you any pain or pressure.
Beyond physical objects, the word is also used to describe our emotional state. If you are in a situation where you feel at peace and confident, you can say you are comfortable. It is a very versatile word that bridges the gap between physical relaxation and mental security.
The word comfortable has a fascinating history rooted in the Latin word confortare, which means 'to strengthen much.' Originally, in Middle English, it meant to provide comfort or support to someone in distress.
Over the centuries, the meaning shifted from the act of 'strengthening' someone to the state of being at ease. It evolved through Old French and eventually became the common adjective we use today to describe everything from a soft bed to a relaxed social setting.
You can use comfortable in almost any setting, from casual chats with friends to professional meetings. It is a high-frequency word that pairs perfectly with nouns like chair, clothes, or life.
In formal contexts, you might hear someone say they are 'financially comfortable,' which means they have enough money to live without worry. In casual settings, it is often used to describe how well a piece of clothing fits or how relaxed a room feels.
1. In your comfort zone: A place or situation where you feel safe and unthreatened. Example: I need to step out of my comfort zone to learn new skills.
2. Comfort food: Food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being. Example: Macaroni and cheese is my ultimate comfort food.
3. Too comfortable: When someone becomes lazy or complacent. Example: Don't get too comfortable in that job; keep learning!
4. Make yourself comfortable: A polite way to tell a guest to relax. Example: Please, come in and make yourself comfortable.
5. Comforting presence: Someone who makes you feel better just by being there. Example: She was a comforting presence during the hard times.
The word comfortable is an adjective and is usually followed by a noun or used after a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel.' The stress is on the first syllable: COM-for-ta-ble.
Pronunciation can be tricky because many native speakers drop the middle syllables, saying it like 'COMF-ter-bull.' It rhymes with words like uncomfortable (its antonym) and shares roots with the verb comfort.
Fun Fact
It originally meant to give someone strength during a hard time.
Pronunciation Guide
Three syllables, silent 'or' sound
Often pronounced with two or three syllables
Common Errors
- Pronouncing every letter
- Stressing the wrong syllable
- Adding an extra 'er'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
The comfortable chair.
Linking verbs
I feel comfortable.
Suffix -able
Comfortable.
Examples by Level
This chair is very comfortable.
chair = seat
Adjective after verb
I am comfortable here.
here = in this place
Adjective after verb
These shoes are comfortable.
shoes = footwear
Plural noun
The bed is comfortable.
bed = where you sleep
Definite article
Are you comfortable?
question form
Question structure
I like comfortable clothes.
clothes = what you wear
Adjective before noun
It is a comfortable house.
house = home
Indefinite article
She feels comfortable.
feels = emotional state
Linking verb
The sofa is the most comfortable place in the house.
I feel comfortable when I speak with my friends.
Do you have a comfortable pair of shoes for walking?
He has a comfortable job that pays well.
We made the room look more comfortable.
I don't feel comfortable in this cold weather.
She is comfortable with the new rules.
It was a comfortable journey by train.
I am not comfortable with the idea of moving abroad.
They live a very comfortable life in the countryside.
The hotel room was small but very comfortable.
She seems comfortable in her new environment.
I feel comfortable enough to share my opinion.
He made a comfortable living as a teacher.
The team had a comfortable lead in the game.
Is the seat height comfortable for you?
He has a comfortable lead in the polls.
I'm not comfortable with the way he spoke to you.
She is very comfortable with public speaking.
They have a comfortable margin of error.
The company is in a comfortable financial position.
I don't feel comfortable leaving the kids alone.
It is a comfortable distance from the city center.
He is comfortable in his own skin.
She showed a comfortable mastery of the subject.
He felt comfortable with the ambiguity of the situation.
The investment provides a comfortable return.
She is quite comfortable with challenging the status quo.
The candidate has a comfortable majority.
I am comfortable with the proposed changes.
The house was furnished in a comfortable, traditional style.
He is perfectly comfortable being alone.
His comfortable indifference to the news was surprising.
She maintained a comfortable distance from the drama.
The author writes with a comfortable grace.
He is comfortable with the complexities of the law.
The room exuded a comfortable, lived-in warmth.
She is comfortable with the inherent risks.
The transition was surprisingly comfortable.
He has a comfortable relationship with his past.
Antônimos
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"in your comfort zone"
feeling safe and familiar
Step out of your comfort zone.
neutral"comfort food"
food that makes you happy
I want some comfort food.
casual"make yourself at home"
be comfortable
Please make yourself at home.
neutral"cushy number"
an easy job
He has a cushy number.
slang"at ease"
relaxed
The soldier was at ease.
formalEasily Confused
same root
noun vs adjective
He gave me comfort (noun).
same meaning
casual vs neutral
This chair is comfy (casual).
similar feeling
cozy is for spaces
A cozy room.
both positive
convenient is for utility
A convenient time.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + be + comfortable + with
I am comfortable with this.
Subject + feel + comfortable
I feel comfortable.
It + be + a + comfortable + noun
It is a comfortable chair.
Subject + make + object + comfortable
She made him comfortable.
Subject + live + a + comfortable + life
They live a comfortable life.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Spelling error, extra syllables.
Comfort is a noun/verb.
Comfortly is not a word.
Correct comparative form.
Adjectives need the -able suffix.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a table that makes you feel relaxed.
Native Speakers
Use it for both physical and mental states.
Hospitality
Say 'make yourself comfortable' to guests.
Suffixes
-able means 'able to be'.
The 'or' sound
It is often silent.
Spelling
Don't add extra letters.
History
It meant 'strengthen' once.
Context
Use it with nouns like chair or life.
Syllables
Don't over-pronounce it.
Comparison
Use 'more comfortable'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Come-for-table: Come sit at the table, it is comfortable!
Visual Association
A soft armchair by a fireplace.
Word Web
Desafio
Use the word 5 times today.
Origem da palavra
Latin
Original meaning: To strengthen greatly
Contexto cultural
None
Used often to describe home life and hospitality.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at home
- make yourself comfortable
- my comfortable chair
- cozy home
at work
- comfortable with the project
- comfortable salary
- comfortable pace
travel
- comfortable seat
- comfortable journey
- comfortable hotel
social
- feel comfortable with people
- comfortable silence
- make someone comfortable
Conversation Starters
"What is the most comfortable place in your home?"
"Do you feel comfortable speaking in public?"
"What is your favorite comfort food?"
"Are you comfortable with the current weather?"
"Do you prefer a comfortable life or an exciting one?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your most comfortable chair.
When do you feel most comfortable?
Write about a time you felt uncomfortable.
What does a comfortable life mean to you?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasComfortable is the adjective, comfort is the noun.
Usually as two or three syllables.
Yes, to describe their emotional state.
Uncomfortable.
It is neutral.
Yes, 'financially comfortable'.
No, it is an adjective.
Yes, very common.
Teste-se
The chair is very ___.
Describes physical ease.
Which means to feel relaxed?
Comfortable means ease.
Comfortable can describe a job.
A comfortable job is an easy one.
Word
Significado
Synonyms.
Subject-verb-adjective order.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
Comfortable is the go-to word for anything that makes you feel physically or mentally at ease.
- Describes physical ease.
- Describes mental peace.
- Very common adjective.
- Has many synonyms like cozy.
Memory Palace
Imagine a table that makes you feel relaxed.
Native Speakers
Use it for both physical and mental states.
Hospitality
Say 'make yourself comfortable' to guests.
Suffixes
-able means 'able to be'.
Exemplo
This sofa is very comfortable to sit on.
Related Content
Ver em vídeos
6:07
Forrest Gump | "Life is Like A Box of Chocolates" Full Scene | Paramount Movies
"This sofa is very comfortable to sit on."
9:50
600 English Words You'll Use Every Day - Basic Vocabulary #100
"This sofa is very comfortable to sit on."
3:54
No Time For Caution - Ad Astra - Falling Scene (edit)
"This sofa is very comfortable to sit on."
Esta palavra em outros idiomas
Frases relacionadas
Mais palavras de home
bathroom
A1A private room in a house or building used for personal hygiene activities. It typically contains a toilet and a sink, and usually includes a bathtub or a shower.
bedroom
A1É o quarto na sua casa onde você dorme. Normalmente tem uma cama e é o seu espaço privado.
cage
A2Uma estrutura de grades ou fios usada para manter animais em segurança.
cat
A2É um animal pequeno e doméstico que muitas pessoas gostam de ter como bicho de estimação.
ceiling
B1O teto é a superfície interior de cima de uma divisão.
cooker
A2O eletrodoméstico da cozinha que combina fogão e forno, usado para preparar as refeições.
cooking
A2O processo de preparar e cozinhar ingredientes para fazer uma refeição.
cupboard
A2Um 'cupboard' é um móvel com portas e prateleiras para guardar coisas.
Dining
A2Comer é a atividade de fazer uma refeição.
doll
A2É uma figura pequena, muitas vezes como uma pessoa, usada como brinquedo para crianças.
