capaz

Capaz is an adjective used in the Spanish and Portuguese languages to denote someone or something as capable, able, or competent to perform a task. In both languages the word is invariable with respect to gender and number: una persona capaz (a capable person) and un sistema capaz (a capable system). It is commonly used with the construction ser capaz de to express ability or potential, as in Ella es capaz de resolver el problema and Ele é capaz de resolver o problema. It can also describe objects whose functions a unit can perform, un equipo capaz de resistir la lluvia (a team capable of withstanding rain).

Etymology: Capaz derives from the Latin capax, meaning able to hold or contain, related to the verb capere (to take). The word has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Italian capace and French capable, and is connected to the English capable through shared Latin roots.

Usage notes: In everyday Spanish and Portuguese, capaz conveys both general competence and specific ability. The corresponding noun is capacidad (capacity or ability), while verbs like capacitar (to train or qualify) are used to express the development of capability. The adjective capaz can carry positive or neutral connotations depending on context.

See also: capacidad, capacitar, capacitado, capaz de.