Sposobnost

Sposobnost is a noun in Slovenian that translates to ability, capacity, competence, or talent. It is used in a broad sense to denote the capacity to perform, understand, or endure something. The term comes from the adjective sposoben, meaning capable or competent.

In everyday language, sposobnost describes a person’s natural endowment or acquired skill in a given domain. Common collocations include fizične sposobnosti (physical abilities), kognitivne sposobnosti (cognitive abilities), socialne sposobnosti (social or interpersonal abilities), and komunikacijske sposobnosti (communication skills). It can also refer to the capacity of systems, organizations, or processes to function as intended.

In psychology and education, sposobnost is used to refer to an individual’s potential or competence in specific areas and is often measured or compared with tests and assessments that gauge general or specific abilities. It is sometimes distinguished from skill (veščina), which implies proficiency gained through practice, and talent (talent), which suggests an innate aptitude.

In legal and formal contexts, pravna sposobnost denotes legal capacity—the ability to possess rights and obligations and to participate in legal acts. Some contexts also use the term zmožnost as a synonym, though zmožnost can carry a slightly different nuance of capacity or possibility.

The concept is cross-linguistically related to similar terms in other South Slavic languages, though usage and exact meaning can vary by country.