Inklingo

How to Say "skillful" in Spanish

The Spanish word forskillfulis hábilB1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB1

hábil

adjectiveB1
having the ability to do something well
A skilled woodworker carefully carving a small wooden bird with precise tools.

Examples

Mi abuelo es muy hábil con las herramientas.

My grandfather is very handy with tools.

Es una abogada muy hábil en las negociaciones.

She is a very skillful lawyer in negotiations.

Fue muy hábil al evitar esa pregunta incómoda.

He was very clever in avoiding that awkward question.

One Form for Everyone

This word doesn't change based on gender. You can say 'el hombre hábil' or 'la mujer hábil' without changing the ending.

Using 'para' to describe skills

When you want to say someone is skilled 'at' something, use the word 'para' followed by the activity: 'Es hábil para el dibujo' (He is skilled at drawing).

The 'Hábila' Error

Mistake:La niña es hábila.

Correction: La niña es hábil. Adjectives ending in -il never change to -a for feminine subjects.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.