Able vs Competent vs My German's clean

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Able

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Competent

Top 2,000 (common) C1 adjective

My German's clean

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most common: Able

	Able	Competent	My German's clean
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblə(r)/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈeɪbl/","/ˈeɪblər/","/ˈeɪblɪst/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/	🇬🇧 //maɪ ˈdʒɜːmənz kliːn// 🇺🇸 //maɪ ˈdʒɜrmənz klin//
Meaning	Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something.	Able to do something well	My German language skills are good.
Example	She is able to speak three languages.	She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases.	I often say, 'My German's clean' when meeting native speakers.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	A2	C1	-
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, feel, prove, fully, perfectly, quite, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very	be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in	speak German, language skills, good German, fluency in German, language proficiency
Antonyms	unable, incapable	incompetent, inept, unqualified	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'capable' — they are similar but not interchangeable., Using 'able' without 'to' when following it with a verb., Incorrectly using 'able' with a past event.	'Competency' is confused with 'competence' despite the latter being more commonly used., Using 'competent' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'competent' with 'complacent', which means self-satisfied.	Using 'clean' instead of 'good' or 'fluent'., Confusing with 'My German is clean' as an idiom., Translating directly from other languages.
Usage notes	Use 'able' to express capability in a neutral context. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but avoid using it in overly formal situations.	Use 'competent' to describe someone who can perform a task effectively. It's appropriate in professional or academic contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations.	Typically used in social settings to claim proficiency in German. Avoid in formal academic contexts.

See it in real clips

I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I was able to hack S.H.I.E.L.D. from my van.

The Sopranos › S1 E1

that they wouldn't be able to shut him up.

I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I was able to hack S.H.I.E.L.D. from my van.

Able

Just a slight one in French, but my German's clean.

My German's clean

Frequently asked questions: Able vs Competent vs My German's clean

What's the difference between Able, Competent, and My German's clean?

Able: Having the skill, power, or opportunity to do something. Competent: Able to do something well My German's clean: My German language skills are good.

Which is more common: Able, Competent, and My German's clean?

Able is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Able, Competent, and My German's clean?

Competent is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Able: She is able to speak three languages. Competent: She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases. My German's clean: I often say, 'My German's clean' when meeting native speakers.

Can I use Able, Competent, and My German's clean interchangeably?

Not always. Able, Competent, and My German's clean are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.