Able vs Capable vs Competent vs Qualified vs Skilled

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Able

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Capable

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Competent

Top 2,000 (common) C1 adjective

Qualified

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 adjective

Skilled

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

	Able	Capable	Competent	Qualified	Skilled
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblə(r)/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblər/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/ Hear Able	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ Hear Capable	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/ Hear Competent	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd/"]/ Hear Qualified	🇬🇧 /["/skɪld/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/skɪld/"]/ Hear Skilled
Meaning	Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something.	able to do something; having the skill or power to do it	Able to do something well	Having the right skills or knowledge for a job.	Good at doing something because of practice
Example	She is able to speak three languages.	She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own.	She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases.	She is a highly qualified teacher with years of experience.	a skilled engineer/negotiator/craftsman
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	B2	C1	B1	B2
Part of speech	adjective	adjective	adjective	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, feel, prove, fully, perfectly, quite, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very	appear, be, feel, fully, more than, perfectly, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very	be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in	be, become, get, highly, well, fully, as, be, feel, eminently, ideally, uniquely, be, heavily	be, become, extremely, fairly, very, at, in, with, skilled in the art (of something), be, become, extremely, fairly, very, at, in, with, skilled in the art (of something)
Antonyms	unable, incapable	incapable, unable	incompetent, inept, unqualified	unqualified, incompetent	unskilled, inexperienced, inept
Common mistakes	Confused with 'capable' — they are similar but not interchangeable., Using 'able' without 'to' when following it with a verb., Incorrectly using 'able' with a past event.	Confused about using 'capable of' versus 'capable for'., Using 'capability' instead of 'capable' incorrectly., Using 'capable' as an adverb (it’s an adjective).	'Competency' is confused with 'competence' despite the latter being more commonly used., Using 'competent' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'competent' with 'complacent', which means self-satisfied.	Confusing 'qualified' with 'qualifying', Using 'qualified' without specifying what for, Mispronouncing 'qualified' with an incorrect emphasis	Using 'skilled' with 'to' instead of 'at' (e.g., 'skilled to play' instead of 'skilled at playing'), Confusing 'skilled' with 'skillful' — while similar, 'skillful' often refers to someone who is good at doing something in a practical context., Overusing 'skilled' when a more specific word (like 'talented' or 'expert') would be more fitting.
Usage notes	Use 'able' to express capability in a neutral context. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but avoid using it in overly formal situations.	Use 'capable' to describe someone or something that has the ability to achieve a task. It's suitable in both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual situations.	Use 'competent' to describe someone who can perform a task effectively. It's appropriate in professional or academic contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations.	Used when discussing someone's abilities in a work context. Appropriately used in job interviews and resumes, but avoid informal situations.	Use 'skilled' to describe someone's ability in a certain area, especially in a professional or artistic context. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings.

Frequently asked questions: Able vs Capable vs Competent vs Qualified vs Skilled

What's the difference between Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified, and Skilled?

Able: Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something. Capable: able to do something; having the skill or power to do it Competent: Able to do something well Qualified: Having the right skills or knowledge for a job. Skilled: Good at doing something because of practice

Are Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified, and Skilled the same CEFR level?

Able: A2, Capable: B2, Competent: C1, Qualified: B1, Skilled: B2 on the CEFR scale.

Can I use Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified, and Skilled interchangeably?

Not always. Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified, and Skilled are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.