מובן
muván/muˈvan/
The English phrase 'understood' is translated into Hebrew as מובן (muván).
מובן is used to describe something that has been comprehended. It is also the standard Hebrew word for 'comprehensible' or 'clear'.
Meaning: comprehended (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
מובן is the passive participle of the verb להבין (to understand).
Which one should you use?
While מובן can mean 'understood' in the sense of being comprehended, it is also the standard word for 'comprehensible' or 'clear' in Hebrew.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes based on gender and number: מובנת is the feminine singular form, מובנים is the masculine plural form and מובנות is the feminine plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is [muˈvan].
Did you know?
- The root of מובן is shared with בִּינָה, a word for 'intelligence' that is linked to the feminine side of wisdom in Jewish mysticism.
- Using מובן to describe a person suggests they are 'easy to grasp' or 'understandable' as a personality, not that they have comprehended a fact.
- Hebrew uses מובן to describe a concept that is 'clear', but it is distinct from the word ברור, which refers to something being 'transparent' or 'obvious'.
Examples in context
- תום מתקשה להישמע מובן בצרפתית.Tom has trouble making himself understood in French.This sentence is useful for describing someone having difficulty making themselves understood using the form מובן.Tatoeba #5632650 by fekundulo, translation #4500900 by CK
- מתי מבין אותי, ונעים להיות מובן.Matthew understands me, and it's so nice to be understood.This sentence shows the feeling of being understood using the form מובן.Tatoeba #6035628 by fekundulo, translation #5831722 by Hybrid
- האם אתה מסוגל להישמע מובן באנגלית?Can you make yourself understood in English?This sentence asks about the ability to be understood using the form מובן.Tatoeba #2005897 by fekundulo, translation #16292 by Jum
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Itay and Noa are discussing a complex project at work.
- איתי Itayהאם ההסבר שלי היה מובן?Ha'im ha'hesber sheli haya muvan?Was my explanation understood?
- נועה Noaכן איתי, הכל היה מאוד מובן.Ken Itay, hakol haya me'od muvan.Yes Itay, everything was very clear.
- איתי Itayאני שמח שזה מובן עכשיו.Ani same'ach she'ze muvan achshav.I'm glad that it's understood now.
- נועה Noaאפשר להתחיל לעבוד על זה.Efshar le'hat'hil la'avod al ze.We can start working on it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry מובן, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
