Able vs Capable vs Competent vs Qualified vs Skilled

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Able

Top 1000 (muy común) A2 adjective

Capable

Top 2000 (común) B2 adjective

Competent

Top 2000 (común) C1 adjective

Qualified

Top 1000 (muy común) B1 adjective

Skilled

Top 2000 (común) B2 adjective

	Able	Capable	Competent	Qualified	Skilled
Pronunciación	🇬🇧 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblə(r)/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblər/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/skɪld/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/skɪld/"]/
Significado	Tener la habilidad, poder u oportunidad para hacer algo. Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something.	poder hacer algo; tener la habilidad o poder para hacerlo able to do something; having the skill or power to do it	Capaz de hacer algo bien Able to do something well	Tener las habilidades o conocimientos adecuados para un trabajo. Having the right skills or knowledge for a job.	Bueno haciendo algo por la práctica. Good at doing something because of practice
Ejemplo	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
Registro	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
Qué tan común	Top 1000 (muy común)	Top 2000 (común)	Top 2000 (común)	Top 1000 (muy común)	Top 2000 (común)
Nivel CEFR	A2	B2	C1	B1	B2
Categoría gramatical	adjective	adjective	adjective	adjective	adjective
Colocaciones	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)
Antónimos	unable, incapable	incapable, unable	incompetent, inept, unqualified	unqualified, incompetent	unskilled, inexperienced, inept
Errores comunes	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.
Notas de uso	Usa 'capaz' para expresar capacidad en un contexto neutral. Es apropiado tanto en inglés hablado como escrito, pero evita usarlo en situaciones demasiado formales. 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.	Usa 'capaz' para describir a alguien o algo que tiene la habilidad para lograr una tarea. Es adecuado en contextos personales y profesionales. Evita usarlo en situaciones demasiado informales. 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.	Usa 'competente' para describir a alguien que puede realizar una tarea de manera efectiva. Es apropiado en contextos profesionales o académicos, pero puede sonar demasiado formal en conversaciones informales. 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.	Se usa al hablar de las habilidades de alguien en un contexto laboral. Apropiado en entrevistas de trabajo y currículums, pero evita situaciones informales. Used when discussing someone's abilities in a work context. Appropriately used in job interviews and resumes, but avoid informal situations.	Usa 'experto' o 'hábil' para describir la habilidad de alguien en un área determinada, especialmente en un contexto profesional o artístico. Es apropiado tanto en entornos informales como formales. 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.

Míralo en clips reales

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

Preguntas frecuentes: Able vs Capable vs Competent vs Qualified vs Skilled

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y 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

¿Cuál es más avanzada: Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y Skilled?

Competent es la de nivel más alto, en C1, en la escala CEFR.

¿Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y Skilled tienen el mismo nivel CEFR?

Able: A2, Capable: B2, Competent: C1, Qualified: B1, Skilled: B2 en la escala CEFR.

¿Qué categoría gramatical son Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y Skilled?

Able: adjective, Capable: adjective, Competent: adjective, Qualified: adjective, Skilled: adjective.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Able: She is able to speak three languages. Capable: She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own. Competent: She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases. Qualified: She is a highly qualified teacher with years of experience. Skilled: a skilled engineer/negotiator/craftsman

¿Puedo usar Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y Skilled indistintamente?

No siempre. Able, Capable, Competent, Qualified y Skilled están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.