Translation guide
How to describe speech that is hard to understand due to mumbling, slurring, or being inarticulate, rather than volume or language barrier.
The speaker's words are not pronounced clearly, often due to laziness, nervousness, or lack of effort.
A general term for unclear or indistinct speech. Often used in formal or descriptive contexts.
彼の説明は不明瞭で、何を言っているのかわからなかった。
His explanation was unclear, and I couldn't understand what he was saying.
Onomatopoeia for mumbling or speaking indistinctly, often with the mouth barely open. Commonly used in casual conversation.
彼はもごもご言って、何を言っているのか聞き取れなかった。
He was mumbling and I couldn't catch what he was saying.
Literally 'not clear', used for speech that lacks clarity. Can also refer to vague statements.
彼の返事ははっきりしなくて、困った。
His reply was unclear, and it was troubling.
A phrase meaning 'speech is unclear'. Slightly more formal.
疲れていると、言葉が不明瞭になることがある。
When you're tired, your speech can become unclear.
Literally 'insufficient tongue', describing speech that sounds babyish or lisping, often due to poor articulation. Can be used for adults but has a childish nuance.
彼の話し方は少し舌足らずで、聞き取りにくい。
His way of speaking is a bit lisping and hard to understand.
Speech is unclear because the speaker's articulation is impaired, often with sounds blending together.
Common phrase meaning 'one's speech is slurred' or 'can't articulate properly'. Often used for drunkenness or extreme fatigue.
彼は酔っ払って、ろれつが回らなくなった。
He got drunk and his speech became slurred.
Noun meaning 'articulation' or 'enunciation'. Often used in the negative form ろれつが回らない.
疲れのせいで、呂律がおかしくなっている。
My articulation is off because of fatigue.
Means 'words get tangled', describing slurred or stammering speech.
緊張して、言葉がもつれてしまった。
I got nervous and my words got tangled.
The content is disorganized, making it hard to follow, rather than just pronunciation.
Direct phrase: 'I don't know what (someone) is saying.' Very common for unclear speech in terms of content.
彼の話は支離滅裂で、何を言っているのかわからなかった。
His story was incoherent, and I couldn't understand what he was saying.
Describes speech or writing that is completely incoherent and disjointed.
彼の証言は支離滅裂で、信用できなかった。
His testimony was incoherent and couldn't be trusted.
Means 'rambling' or 'desultory', often used for speech that wanders without a point.
彼のとりとめのない話に、みんな退屈していた。
Everyone was bored by his rambling talk.
もごもご focuses on the muffled, mumbling quality of speech, often due to not opening the mouth properly. ろれつが回らない specifically refers to slurred articulation, commonly from intoxication or fatigue.
彼はもごもご言って、よく聞こえなかった。
He mumbled and I couldn't hear well.
酔っ払ってろれつが回らなくなった。
He got drunk and his speech became slurred.
Unclear speech in English can refer to low volume or foreign accent, but the Japanese terms here specifically address articulation and coherence. For 'I can't hear you', use 聞こえません (きこえません). For 'I don't understand the language', use 言葉がわかりません (ことばがわかりません).