habile

English

Etymology

From Middle English habil, from Old French habile, from Latin habilis (“suitable; apt”), from habeō (“I handle”). Doublet of able.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhæbəl/, /ˈhæbɪl/, (uncommon) /ˈhæbaɪl/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

habile (comparative more habile, superlative most habile)

1. Generally able or adroit; handy.

Translations

1. Generally able or adroit; handy

• Bulgarian: умел (bg) (umel), изкусен (bg) (izkusen)
• German: fähig, tüchtig
• Polish: zręczny (pl), zwinny (pl), zgrabny (pl)
• Spanish: hábil (es)

French

Etymology

From Old French (h)abile (13th c.), a borrowing from Latin habilis (“suitable, apt”).

Pronunciation

• ^{(mute h)} IPA^(key): /a.bil/

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

• Audio (Switzerland (Valais)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -il
• Homophone: habiles

Adjective

habile (plural habiles)

1. adroit, skillful
2. slick, nifty

Derived terms

• habilement
• habileté
• habiliter

Related terms

• avoir

Further reading

• “habile”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Latin

Adjective

habile

1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular of habilis

Swedish

Adjective

habile

1. definite natural masculine singular of habil