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"able, capable" in seven languages

Meaningable, capable

Spanish

capaz

/kaˈpaθ/

learned

plural: capaces

French

capable

/kapabl/

other source · Late Latin CAPĀBILEM 'able to hold', from the same verb CAPERE

Italian

capace

/kaˈpatʃe/

learned

Portuguese

capaz

/kaˈpas/

learned

Romanian

capabil

/kaˈpabil/

other source · French capable, from Late Latin CAPĀBILEM (same verb CAPERE)

Catalan

capaç

/kəˈpas/

learned

English

able

/ˈeɪbəl/

other source · Old French (h)able, from Latin HABILEM 'handy'

Its Latin cousin is Spanish hábil, 'skilful'.

English → Italianable, capablecapaceNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: capacity, capacious, capable.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

CAPĀCEM‘roomy, able to hold (from CAPERE 'to take')’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

CAPAX first described a roomy jar; 'able to hold' became 'able to do'. All three build it with 'of': capaz de, capable de, capace di.

English relatives: capacity, capacious, capable

Sound laws at work

C before E and I

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In a sentence

  • esEs capaz de hacerlo sola.
  • frElle est capable de le faire seule.
  • itÈ capace di farlo da sola.
  • ptEla é capaz de fazer isso sozinha.
  • roE capabilă s-o facă singură.
  • caÉs capaç de fer-ho sola.
  • enShe is able to do it on her own.

More words from the same Latin

More in Describing words

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