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hábil

AH-beel/ˈa.bil/

“hábil” means “skillful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

skillful

Also: clever, handy
Adjectivem or fB1
A skilled woodworker carefully carving a small wooden bird with precise tools.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo es muy hábil con las herramientas.

A2

My grandfather is very handy with tools.

Es una abogada muy hábil en las negociaciones.

B1

She is a very skillful lawyer in negotiations.

Fue muy hábil al evitar esa pregunta incómoda.

B2

He was very clever in avoiding that awkward question.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • diestro (expert/skilled)
  • capaz (capable)
  • mañoso (handy/crafty)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • hábil para – skilled at
  • ser hábil – to be skillful

working

Also: business, valid
Adjectivem or fB2formal
An office worker sitting at a desk with a laptop and a cup of coffee in a bright office.

📝 In Action

El banco procesará el pago en tres días hábiles.

B1

The bank will process the payment in three business days.

Los sábados y domingos no son días hábiles.

B2

Saturdays and Sundays are not working days.

Tiene un plazo hábil de diez días para reclamar.

C1

You have a valid period of ten days to claim.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • laboral (working/labor)
  • lectivo (school (day))

Antonyms

  • inhábil (non-working (day))
  • festivo (holiday)

Common Collocations

  • día hábil – working day
  • plazo hábil – legal window/valid period

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hábil" in Spanish:

skillful→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hábil

Question 1 of 3

If a package arrives in 'tres días hábiles' and today is Friday, when should you expect it (ignoring holidays)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
habilidad(skill/ability) — Noun
habilidoso(very skillful/handy) — Adjective
habilitar(to enable/to equip) — Verb
rehabilitar(to rehabilitate) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
fácilútildifícil
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'habilis,' which meant 'easy to handle' or 'suitable.' It comes from the verb 'habere' (to have or to hold), implying that someone 'has' the qualities needed for a task.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: ableFrench: habileItalian: abile

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between 'hábil' and 'habilidoso'?

Yes. While both mean skillful, 'habilidoso' is more common in everyday conversation to describe someone who is 'handy' or 'talented' at a hobby, whereas 'hábil' can be more formal or describe mental cleverness.

Does 'hábil' ever have an accent?

Yes, it always has an accent on the 'á' because the stress is on the second-to-last syllable and it ends in a consonant other than N or S.

Can 'hábil' be used for animals?

Yes! You can say an animal is 'hábil' if it is clever at catching prey or escaping, like 'un zorro hábil' (a clever fox).