Ineffability is the quality of something that surpasses the capacity of language to express it, often being in the form of a taboo or incomprehensible term. This property is commonly associated with philosophy, theology, aspects of existence, and similar concepts that are inherently "too great", complex or abstract to be communicated adequately. Illogical statements, principles, reasons and arguments may be considered intrinsically ineffable along with impossibilities, contradictions and paradoxes.
An object, event or concept is ineffable if it cannot adequately be expressed by the use of natural language. Thomas Aquinas' Prayer before Study, Creator ineffabilis, addresses God as ineffable whilst also seeking to overcome both ignorance and sin.
See also
- Atopy (philosophy)
- Apophatic (or "negative") theology
- Ideasthesia
- Implicit knowledge
- Meaning (linguistics)
- True name
- Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus#Proposition 7: "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent" (Wittgenstein)