Inklingo

How to Say "passable" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aceptable

/ah-sep-TAH-bleh//a.sepˈta.βle/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'aceptable' when something meets basic requirements or is just good enough, often referring to services, conditions, or general quality that isn't outstanding but won't cause major complaints.
A bowl of ripe, red apples with one small, slight blemish, sitting on a clean wooden table.

Examples

El servicio en el restaurante fue aceptable.

The service at the restaurant was okay.

Buscamos una solución aceptable para todos.

We are looking for a solution that is acceptable for everyone.

Sus notas en la escuela son aceptables.

His grades at school are satisfactory.

One word for both genders

This word doesn't change based on gender. You use 'aceptable' for both 'el' (masculine) and 'la' (feminine) things.

Making it plural

To talk about more than one thing, simply add an '-s' to make it 'aceptables'.

Don't change the ending to 'a'

Mistake:La respuesta es aceptabla.

Correction: La respuesta es aceptable. Words ending in -e in Spanish usually stay the same whether you are describing a boy thing or a girl thing.

potable

/poh-TAH-bleh//poˈta.βle/

adjectiveB2general
Choose 'potable' to describe something, often creative works like movies or books, that is of mediocre quality but still watchable or readable without being particularly good or bad.
A simple, hand-drawn star on a sheet of paper with a yellow background, indicating a satisfactory grade.

Examples

La película no es una obra maestra, pero es potable.

The movie isn't a masterpiece, but it's decent.

El examen me salió potable, creo que voy a aprobar.

The exam went okay for me; I think I'll pass.

Buscamos un candidato que sea medianamente potable para el puesto.

We are looking for a candidate who is somewhat acceptable for the position.

Using 'ser' or 'estar'

We usually use 'ser' with this meaning because we are describing the inherent quality of the thing.

Aceptable vs. Potable

Learners often confuse 'aceptable' and 'potable' by using 'aceptable' for things like movies when 'potable' is more fitting. Remember, 'aceptable' is for general adequacy, while 'potable' specifically refers to the mediocre quality of creative or intellectual content.

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