subliminal

== English == === Etymology === The adjective is derived from sub- (prefix meaning ‘beneath, under’) +‎ liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The English word is borrowed from German subliminal, or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”). The noun is derived from the adjective. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): [ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩], [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (General American) IPA(key): /səˈblɪm.ɪ.nəl/, [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/, [ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] Hyphenation: sub‧li‧min‧al === Adjective === subliminal (comparative more subliminal, superlative most subliminal) (physiology) Of a stimulus: below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced. [from late 19th c.] Synonyms: latent, underthreshold Antonyms: liminal, superliminal (psychology) Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious. [from late 19th c.] (by extension) Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it. [from mid 20th c.] ==== Alternative forms ==== sub-liminal (dated) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === subliminal (plural subliminals) (physiology) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception. [from late 19th c.] (psychology) Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self. [from late 19th c.] (by extension) An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it. [from mid 20th c.] (Internet slang) An audio or video recording, often consisting of ambient music or white noise with hidden affirmations, intended to produce physical or psychological changes in the listener through repetition. ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === subliminal stimuli on Wikipedia.Wikipedia subliminal (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia == French == === Etymology === English subliminal, itself a calque from German unterschwellig. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sy.bli.mi.nal/ === Adjective === subliminal (feminine subliminale, masculine plural subliminaux, feminine plural subliminales) subliminal Synonym: subliminaire Antonym: supraliminal ==== Derived terms ==== subliminalement === Further reading === “subliminal”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French subliminal. === Adjective === subliminal m or n (feminine singular subliminală, masculine plural subliminali, feminine/neuter plural subliminale) subliminal ==== Declension ==== == Spanish == === Etymology === Morphologically sub- (“under, below”) + Latin līmen (“threshold”) (genitive līminis) + -al (“adjective”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sublimiˈnal/ [su.β̞li.miˈnal] Rhymes: -al Syllabification: su‧bli‧mi‧nal === Adjective === subliminal m or f (masculine and feminine plural subliminales) subliminal ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “subliminal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025