Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

capable

/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.61 in modern English

Syllables: ca-pa-ble
IPA: /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/

13

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.

adj

Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"She is capable and efficient."
"He does not need help; he is capable of eating on his own."
"As everyone knew, he was capable of violence when roused."
"That fact is not capable of proof."
"They are neither capable of forming to themſelves a Rule, nor of diſcovering a Law-giver, nor of having the Rule enforc’d on them by the Proſpect of future Good or Ill."
"The attainment of the skills of elementary reading occurred some time ago for almost all who read this book. Nevertheless, we continue to experience the problems of this level of reading, no matter how capable we may be as readers."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *kap-, capable, capābilis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/
British English: /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more capable (comparative) most capable (superlative)

Derived Forms

capability capableness capably handicapable noncapable overcapable supercapable ultracapable uncapable

Phrases

dual-capable aircraft

Frequently Paired Words

healthy skillful

Synonyms

capable adequate to equal to up to able open subject

Antonyms

incapable

Rhymes With

incapable inescapable

Questions

How do you pronounce capable?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/.
What does capable mean?: Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
Where does capable come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce capable

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “capable”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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