capable

/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/

//ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"capable" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“capable” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,429 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#2,429
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

capable vs capsule
71% similar
capable vs curable
71% similar
capable vs culpable
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for capable
PropertyValue
Headwordcapable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,429
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “capable” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). capable lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for capable is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,429 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for capable, with forms such as "acpable", "caapble", and "capabble". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "capsule", "curable", "culpable", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis. The correct English form is capable, spelled C-A-P-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
  2. 2
    Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.

Synonyms

capable

Antonyms

incapable

This word in other languages

capaz(Español)capable(Français)fähig(Deutsch)capaz(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acpable,caapble,capabble,capabel,capablle,capalbe,capbale,capible,cappable,ccapable,cpaable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of capable - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

acpable2caapble2capabble1capabel2capablle1capalbe2capbale2capible1
Edit distance from "capable"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "capable"?
"capable" is spelled C-A-P-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/.
What does "capable" mean?
As an adjective, "capable" means: Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
What words are commonly confused with "capable"?
"capable" is commonly confused with "capsule", "curable", "culpable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "capable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "capable" is /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "capable"?
Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “capable”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-P-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “capsule” - see the side-by-side comparison. capable vs capsule
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list