compétents

Compétents is the masculine plural form of the French adjective compétent. It is used to describe people, roles, or things that possess the necessary skill, ability, or qualifications. The feminine equivalents are compétente (singular) and compétentes (plural). The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, for example: des personnes compétentes, un technicien compétent, des ingénieurs compétents.

Compétents contrasts with the noun compétences, which means skills or competencies. The phrase avoir des compétences refers to possessing skills; être compétent describes the level of capability of a person in a given area. In standard French usage, the adjective generally follows the noun: une équipe compétente, des professionnels compétents, though there are stylistic variations in some expressions.

Usage and nuance: the term signals practical ability and reliability in a specific domain. It can describe a broad capability (un professionnel compétent) or a more focused proficiency (un chirurgien compétent dans les réparations d’urgence). While the form compétent is common in everyday language, other adjectives (experts, qualifié, capable) may convey similar meanings with slight nuance.

In contexts such as human resources or education, the related noun compétence is often used to discuss expected abilities, evaluation criteria, or skill inventories. An employee or candidate may be described as compétent when they meet professional standards; conversely, an apparent lack of compétence might prompt training or assessment.