Kabiliyet

Kabiliyet is a Turkish abstract noun meaning the capacity, potential, or ability to do something. The term derives from the Arabic qabiliyya via Ottoman Turkish, with the suffix -iyet forming a state or quality of being capable. In modern Turkish usage, kabiliyet can refer to a person’s general capability, including mental and physical capacity, as well as a natural aptitude or potential to learn.

Compared with related terms, kabiliyet is broader than beceri (skill) and yetenek (talent). Beceri implies a learned or practiced proficiency; yetenek emphasizes inherent talent or aptitude; kabiliyet stands for the overall potential or capacity to perform, which may be realized through training or experience.

In common phrases, one speaks of kabiliyeti olan or kabiliyeti olmayan to describe whether someone has the ability to undertake a task, or of yüksek kabiliyet to describe high potential. It can also appear in academic or professional contexts to discuss a person’s capacity for a range of activities, such as logical reasoning, physical tasks, or administrative functions.

Historically, the word has been part of Turkish vocabulary since Ottoman times, retaining a formal or somewhat neutral tone in contemporary use. Its emphasis on capacity rather than a specific skill marks it as a versatile term across education, psychology, management, and law, even as usage tends to favor more precise terms like yetenek or beceri in everyday speech.