Capable vs Competent

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

Capable

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Competent

Top 2,000 (common) C1 adjective

	Capable	Competent
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/
Meaning	able to do something; having the skill or power to do it	Able to do something well
Example	She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own.	She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	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
Antonyms	incapable, unable	incompetent, inept, unqualified
Common mistakes	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.
Usage notes	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.

See it in real clips

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

Of course, no maester's capable of rendering an opinion

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

capable of acting out of mutual self-interest, yes?

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

And the Gustav was capable of firing a 7-ton shell

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

Of course, no maester's capable of rendering an opinion

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

capable of acting out of mutual self-interest, yes?

Capable

Frequently asked questions: Capable vs Competent

What's the difference between Capable and Competent?

Capable: able to do something; having the skill or power to do it Competent: Able to do something well

Which is more advanced: Capable and Competent?

Competent is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Capable and Competent the same CEFR level?

Capable: B2, Competent: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Capable and Competent?

Capable: adjective, Competent: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Capable: She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own. Competent: She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases.

Can I use Capable and Competent interchangeably?

Not always. Capable and Competent 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.