# competent vs component

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### competent
*adjective · IPA /ˈkɒmpətənt/ · frequency rank #8,018*
Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.

### component
*noun · IPA /kəmˈpəʊnənt/ · frequency rank #4,146*
A smaller, self-contained part of a larger entity. Often refers to a manufactured object that is part of a larger device.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-component