Capable is an adjective meaning having the ability, fitness, or power to perform a task. It implies competence and adequacy, often suggesting potential or readiness. In use, it can describe both current skill and possible future capability, as in “she is capable of learning quickly.”
US: rhotic, clear /r/ only when followed by a vowel; UK: non-rhotic, non-velarized /r/; AU: non-rhotic but with vowel merging tendencies and a more centralized /ə/. Vowel: /eɪ/ is long; /ə/ can be reduced depending on emphasis; /bəl/ often realizes with a lighter /əl/ rather than a full /l/. IPA: US /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/, UK /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/, AU /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/.
"She is capable of solving complex problems under pressure."
"The team is capable, but they still need a solid plan."
"He proved he was capable by completing the project ahead of schedule."
"The device is designed to be capable for everyday use."
Capable comes from the Middle French capable, from Latin capabilis, meaning “able to be caught, caught or seized,” from capere “to seize, take.” The form Capable entered English in the 15th century, originally in the sense of “able to be held or held capable,” evolving to its current sense of possessing power or ability. The core idea of “seizing” or “taking hold” carried into metaphorical domains: acquiring ability, capability, or potential. Across centuries, the word shifted from a physical to a moral/functional domain, indicating readiness or suitability for a task. The modern pronunciation stabilizes around the two-syllable stress pattern with a weak second syllable, while the spelling preserves the root cap- from Latin capere. First known uses appear in legal and scholastic contexts in the late Middle Ages, expanding in the 17th–18th centuries with scientific and vocational language, reinforcing its sense of competence and capacity in both people and objects.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Capable" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Capable" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Capable"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Capable is stressed on the first syllable: /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/. Start with a long A sound as in 'cake' (keɪ), followed by a light, unstressed schwa in the second syllable and a soft ‘l’ at the end. Ensure the middle syllable is quick: pə. Audio reference: imagine saying ‘cake-uh-bull’ quickly, with the middle vowel reduced.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the middle syllable (saying ‘keh-PAY-buhl’ or too strong ‘pə’) and turning the final ‘-ble’ into a distinct ‘bull’ instead of a light ‘bəl’. Correction: keep /pə/ as a brief, unstressed schwa and finish with a soft, syllabic -ble as /bəl/. Also avoid reducing the first syllable’s vowel (avoid /ki-/, preserve /keɪ/).
In US/UK/AU, the initial /ˈkeɪ/ is consistent with the long A, but rhotics influence following vowels slightly. US often maintains a clear rhotic ending in connected speech, while non-rhotic varieties may lower the /ə/ before the /l/ subtly. Australian speech tends to be more centralized with a lighter /ə/ and quick, relaxed /l/. Overall, the core is /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/ with minor vowel color differences.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed middle vowel /ə/ after a strong stressed syllable and the final /əl/ sequence. Learners often reduce or mispronounce /pə/ or blend /bəl/ into a single consonant cluster. Focus on keeping the second syllable as a brief, neutral schwa and finishing with a light, clear /l/. Accent timing matters: the transition from /ˈkeɪ/ to /pə/ should be quick and smooth.
A Capable-specific question might be: does the /p/ in Capable release carry a strong aspiration? In careful speech, yes the /p/ is released with a small puff before the /ə/; in rapid speech, you can slightly reduce it while keeping the /p/ perceptible. The essential cues are the initial /ˈkeɪ/ onset, the brief /pə/ middle, and the soft /bəl/ coda. IPA cues: /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/.
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