kompetentní

Kompetentní is an adjective used in Czech and Slovak to describe a person or entity that possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and authority to perform a task. In Czech, kompetentní (with final í) is commonly used for professionals such as doctors, lawyers, managers, or institutions that demonstrate appropriate expertise. In Slovak, the corresponding form is kompetentný. The term is typically employed in formal, professional, or administrative contexts and can be used attributively or predicatively, e.g., On je kompetentní odborník; Ta organizácia je kompetentná.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Latin competens, meaning fitting or suitable, through German or French into Czech and Slovak. It has cognates in many languages, including English competent, German kompetent, and Polish kompetentny. The sense is broadly “having the required competence or ability.”

Usage notes: The adjective declines like other -ní adjectives in Czech and like -ný adjectives in Slovak, with forms changing by gender and number. An antonym is nekompetentní in contexts where negation is appropriate. Related terms include zdatný (capable), kvalifikovaný (qualified), and způsobilý (fit, eligible). Common collocations comprise kompetentní odborník, kompetentní lékař, and kompetentná organizácia.