Cool MateCompetent vs Skilled
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Competent
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Skilled
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
| Competent | Skilled | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/skɪld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/skɪld/"]/ |
| Meaning | Able to do something well | Good at doing something because of practice |
| Example | She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases. | a skilled engineer/negotiator/craftsman |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in | 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 | incompetent, inept, unqualified | unskilled, inexperienced, inept |
| Common mistakes | '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. | 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 '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. | 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: Competent vs Skilled
What's the difference between Competent and Skilled?
Competent: Able to do something well Skilled: Good at doing something because of practice
Are Competent and Skilled the same CEFR level?
Competent: C1, Skilled: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Competent and Skilled interchangeably?
Not always. Competent 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.