Able vs Capable

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

Most common: Able

	Able	Capable
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblə(r)/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblər/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/
Meaning	Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something.	able to do something; having the skill or power to do it
Example	She is able to speak three languages.	She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	B2
Part of speech	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
Antonyms	unable, incapable	incapable, unable
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).
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.

See it in real clips

I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I was able to hack S.H.I.E.L.D. from my van.

The Sopranos › S1 E1

that they wouldn't be able to shut him up.

I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I was able to hack S.H.I.E.L.D. from my van.

Able

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: Able vs Capable

What's the difference between Able and Capable?

Able: Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something. Capable: able to do something; having the skill or power to do it

Which is more common: Able and Capable?

Able is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Able and Capable?

Capable is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Able and Capable the same CEFR level?

Able: A2, Capable: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Able and Capable?

Able: adjective, Capable: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Able: She is able to speak three languages. Capable: She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own.

Can I use Able and Capable interchangeably?

Not always. Able and Capable 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.