Unable in Different Languages
Discover 'Unable' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'unable' is a common English term that indicates an inability or lack of capacity to do something. It's a word that we use in our daily lives, and its significance extends beyond the realm of language. Our ability to communicate our limitations is crucial in building relationships, establishing expectations, and expressing gratitude.
Culturally, the concept of 'unable' is just as important. Acknowledging our limitations is a sign of humility and respect in many cultures, and it can help us to avoid overstepping boundaries or causing offense. Moreover, understanding the limitations of others can foster empathy, patience, and inclusivity.
For those interested in language and culture, knowing the translation of 'unable' in different languages can be particularly fascinating. For instance, the French translation of 'unable' is 'incapable,' while the Spanish translation is 'incapaz.' In German, 'unable' translates to 'unfähig,' and in Japanese, it is 'Unable to do' (できない).
Exploring the translations of 'unable' in different languages offers a unique insight into the cultural nuances and linguistic differences that make our world so diverse and interesting.
Unable
Unable in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | nie in staat | ||
| The phrase "nie in staat" literally means "not in a position", reflecting its original Dutch etymology. | |||
| Amharic | አልቻለም | ||
| The Amharic word "achalem" (unable) is derived from the verb "achala" (to forbid). | |||
| Hausa | iya | ||
| The Hausa word 'iya' also means 'not able to' or 'unable'. | |||
| Igbo | enweghị ike | ||
| The word "enweghị ike" in Igbo can also mean "not possible" or "impossible". | |||
| Malagasy | tsy afaka | ||
| "Tsy afaka" is made of the negative particle "tsy" and a form of the verb "afaka" which means to be able, to have the power or possibility. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | osakhoza | ||
| The word osakhoza (unable) in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to someone who is lazy or unwilling to do something. | |||
| Shona | asingakwanise | ||
| Asinga is an auxiliary which when added before other verbs in a sentence changes them from the active to a passive meaning. | |||
| Somali | awoodin | ||
| The Somali word "awoodin" also means "disabled" or "incapable". | |||
| Sesotho | sitoa | ||
| The root of sitoa 'unable' is -toa 'be exhausted, finished, ended', with the prefix si- indicating a passive-reflexive meaning. | |||
| Swahili | haiwezi | ||
| The word "haiwezi" in Swahili is derived from the negative form of the verb "weza" ("to be able") and the suffix "-i" ("it"). | |||
| Xhosa | ayikwazi | ||
| The word "ayikwazi" is derived from the Xhosa root "kwazi" meaning "can", and the negative prefix "ayi-" meaning "not". Hence, "ayikwazi" literally means "not can"} | |||
| Yoruba | lagbara | ||
| The word 'lagbara' can also mean 'not having enough resources or capabilities' | |||
| Zulu | ayikwazi | ||
| Despite its negative connotation, the Zulu word "ayikwazi" also has an endearing implication of inadequacy that can be used in a humorous or affectionate context. | |||
| Bambara | se tan | ||
| Ewe | mate ŋui o | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ntibishoboka | ||
| Lingala | kokoka te | ||
| Luganda | obutasobola | ||
| Sepedi | palelwa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | antumi | ||
Unable in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | غير قادر | ||
| The Arabic word "غير قادر" (unable) is derived from the verb "قدر" (to be able), and can also mean "impotent" or "powerless". | |||
| Hebrew | לא מסוגל | ||
| "לא מסוגל" (unable) in Hebrew could mean "can't" or "not allowed to", depending on context. | |||
| Pashto | ناتوانه | ||
| The word "ناتوانه" in Pashto is derived from the Persian word "ناتوان" and can also mean "weak" or "powerless". | |||
| Arabic | غير قادر | ||
| The Arabic word "غير قادر" (unable) is derived from the verb "قدر" (to be able), and can also mean "impotent" or "powerless". | |||
Unable in Western European Languages
| Albanian | të paaftë | ||
| Basque | ezin | ||
| It shares a root with "ez" (no) and "gaitz" (evil), and also means "lacking strength" or "weakness". | |||
| Catalan | incapaç | ||
| In Catalan, "incapaç" also means "legally incompetent." | |||
| Croatian | nesposoban | ||
| Nesposoban also means 'crazy' or 'mad' in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | ude af stand | ||
| "Ude af stand" literally translates to "out of stand" or "out of order", which further implies an inability. | |||
| Dutch | niet in staat | ||
| Niet in staat translates to not able to, but can also mean not capable of | |||
| English | unable | ||
| "Unable" derives from the Old French word "unable," meaning "not able, powerless," that traces back to the Latin word "in habilis," meaning "unfit, unskillful," from "in-," meaning "not," and "habilis," meaning "fit, able," from "habere," meaning "to have, to hold." | |||
| French | incapable | ||
| The French word "incapable" originally meant "unskillful" or "inept". | |||
| Frisian | net yn steat | ||
| The word "net yn steat" derives from the Old Frisian phrase "nyet yn state", meaning "not in state", and its current meaning of "unable" only developed in the 20th century. | |||
| Galician | incapaz | ||
| The word "incapaz" can also mean "inexperienced" or "not suitable for a particular task or role" in Galician. | |||
| German | unfähig | ||
| The word "unfähig" also means "incompetent" and is derived from the Old High German "unfahan". | |||
| Icelandic | ófær | ||
| The Icelandic word "ófær" also means "impassable" or "difficult to traverse", especially with regard to roads or paths. | |||
| Irish | in ann | ||
| Irish "in ann" is a contraction of "i n-ann dhá" ("in non-existence") which can also mean "unknown" or "unclear." | |||
| Italian | incapace | ||
| Incapable also means 'of equal ability' in Italian, due to its Latin roots. | |||
| Luxembourgish | net fäeg | ||
| "Fäeg" is related to the German "fähig" and the French "fait", all of which are derived from the Latin "facere", meaning "to make" or "to do". | |||
| Maltese | ma jistax | ||
| The word "ma jistax" is derived from the Arabic phrase "ma yasṭīʿ", meaning "he cannot". | |||
| Norwegian | ute av stand | ||
| 'Ute av stand' can also mean out of order or broken. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | incapaz | ||
| The Portuguese word "incapaz" comes from Latin "incapax, incapaçis," meaning "incapable, incompetent, unfit," with the prefix "in-" meaning "without" from Proto-Indo-European "en" and the root of "capere" meaning "to take, to hold." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | comasach | ||
| The word 'comasach' is derived from the Gaelic words 'comh' (together) and 'as' (enough), and can also mean 'sufficient' or 'adequate'. | |||
| Spanish | incapaz | ||
| The word "incapaz" in Spanish not only means "unable" but also "incompetent" or "unqualified". | |||
| Swedish | oförmögen | ||
| The word "oförmögen" is derived from the roots "o-," meaning "lack of" or "without," and "förmögen" meaning "ability" or "power." | |||
| Welsh | methu | ||
| The Welsh word "methu" also means "immature" or "unripe". | |||
Unable in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | не ў стане | ||
| The word "не ў стане" can also mean "incompetent" or "incapable" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | ne mogu | ||
| In Eastern Bosnian, 'ne mogu' does not only mean 'unable', but is also a euphemism for 'I don't want to'. | |||
| Bulgarian | не може | ||
| The word "не може" can also mean "can't" or "impossible". | |||
| Czech | neschopný | ||
| The word "neschopný" originally meant "incapable", or "not having the ability", before taking on its current meaning of "unable" in the 17th century. | |||
| Estonian | võimatu | ||
| The Proto-Finnic root *woi̯ma meant both "strength" and "ability", and the Estonian word "võimatu" is a derivate of that. | |||
| Finnish | kykenemätön | ||
| “Kykenemätön” is a loan from German “inkompetent” (“lacking capacity”). | |||
| Hungarian | képtelen | ||
| In 16th century Hungarian, "képtelen" was already used to mean "incapable of imagining" or "impossible to comprehend". | |||
| Latvian | nespēj | ||
| The word "nespēj" is derived from the Slavic word "nesobiti", meaning "not fit" or "unsuited". | |||
| Lithuanian | negali | ||
| "Negali" derives from "ne-galėti" in Old Lithuanian, meaning "not to be able," and the word "galėti" originally meant "to make". | |||
| Macedonian | не може | ||
| The word "не може" can also mean "impossible" or "it is not possible" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | niezdolny | ||
| The word "niezdolny" in Polish also means "incompetent" or "incapable". | |||
| Romanian | incapabil | ||
| The word "incapabil" derives from the Latin word "capabilis", which also has the meanings of "able" or "capable". | |||
| Russian | неспособный | ||
| The root of the word "неспособный" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "съпобъ" - "opportunity, means." | |||
| Serbian | неспособан | ||
| In Serbian, "неспособан" not only means "unable", but also refers to a person who lacks specific qualifications or skills. | |||
| Slovak | neschopný | ||
| "Neschopný" shares its root with the word "schopný" meaning "able". | |||
| Slovenian | ne more | ||
| In Slovenian, the word "ne more" can also mean "he/she does not have to" | |||
| Ukrainian | не в змозі | ||
| The expression "не в змозі" (unable) might also mean incapable, unable to do something, or powerless. | |||
Unable in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | অক্ষম | ||
| Its synonyms include 'helpless', 'crippled', 'disabled', 'handicapped', and 'powerless'. | |||
| Gujarati | અસમર્થ | ||
| Hindi | असमर्थ | ||
| The word 'असमर्थ' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'समर्थ' which means 'able' or 'capable'. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ | ||
| The verb "ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ" is derived from the Sanskrit root "sādhya," meaning "feasible" or "possible," and the negative particle "na," resulting in its literal meaning of "not possible" or "unable." | |||
| Malayalam | കഴിയുന്നില്ല | ||
| Marathi | अक्षम | ||
| The term 'अक्षम', meaning 'unable' in Marathi, can also refer to 'unfit', 'disqualified' or 'not competent'. | |||
| Nepali | असमर्थ | ||
| The word "असमर्थ" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "समर्थ" which means "able" or "capable". Adding the negative prefix "अ" to the beginning of the word reverses its meaning, making it "unable" or "incapable". | |||
| Punjabi | ਅਸਮਰਥ | ||
| The word "ਅਸਮਰਥ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "असमर्थ" and also means "incapable" or "powerless". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නොහැකි | ||
| The Sinhala word "නොහැකි" is derived from the Sanskrit expression "na śakyate," meaning "not possible" or "impossible." | |||
| Tamil | முடியவில்லை | ||
| The Tamil word "முடியவில்லை" can also be used to express impossibility or a lack of potential. | |||
| Telugu | సాధ్యం కాలేదు | ||
| The Telugu word "సాధ్యం కాలేదు" (saadhyaṃ kālēdu) is derived from the Sanskrit phrase "sādhyaṃ na khalu" and can also mean "it is not possible" or "it cannot be done." | |||
| Urdu | ناکارہ | ||
Unable in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 无法 | ||
| "无法" also means Buddhist sutras or Buddhist teachings and methods. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 無法 | ||
| The second character 法 originally meant “rules” as in “laws”, or “methods”, and it was later extended to also mean “laws of nature.” | |||
| Japanese | できません | ||
| The word "できません" (dekimasen) comes from the verb "できる" (dekiru), which means "can," and the negative marker "せん" (sen). | |||
| Korean | 할 수 없는 | ||
| 할 수 없는 (할 수 없는) is a compound word of 하다 (to do) and 수 (a way or method), and originally meant 'lacking a way or method'. | |||
| Mongolian | чадахгүй | ||
| The word "чадахгүй" comes from the Mongolian root word "чадах" meaning "can," and the suffix "-гүй" meaning "not," so it literally translates to "not able to." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မတတ်နိုင် | ||
Unable in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tidak mampu | ||
| "Tidak" comes from a Sanskrit term, while "mampu" means 'able' | |||
| Javanese | ora bisa | ||
| "Ora bisa" in Javanese can also mean "impossible", "can't do it", or "not allowed to do something." | |||
| Khmer | មិនអាច | ||
| The term "មិនអាច" can also refer to a lack of ability or possibility, as well as a physical or mental limitation. | |||
| Lao | ບໍ່ສາມາດ | ||
| Malay | tidak dapat | ||
| The term "tidak dapat" in Malay also means "not able to" or "unable to do". | |||
| Thai | ไม่สามารถ | ||
| ไม่สามารถ is derived from two Pali words 'asamattha' and 'anupaya', which signify 'incapable' and 'without means' respectively. | |||
| Vietnamese | không thể | ||
| The word "không thể" is also used colloquially to mean "impossible" or "very difficult to do." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hindi kaya | ||
Unable in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | bacarmır | ||
| The etymology of "bacarmır" is unclear, but it is sometimes used as an emphatic form of "bilmir" ("notknow"). | |||
| Kazakh | мүмкін емес | ||
| Kyrgyz | мүмкүн эмес | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "мүмкүн эмес" can also mean "impossible", "not possible", or "out of the question." | |||
| Tajik | наметавонам | ||
| The word «наметавонам» derives from the Persian phrase «نمیتوانم», which means «I can't». | |||
| Turkmen | edip bilmedi | ||
| Uzbek | qodir emas | ||
| 'Qodir emas' is the Uzbek phrase for 'unable', which can also take on the meaning of 'incapable' or 'incompetent' in certain contexts. | |||
| Uyghur | ئامالسىز | ||
Unable in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hiki ʻole | ||
| The word `hiki ʻole` can also mean "forbidden" or "impossible" due to traditional Hawaiian values. | |||
| Maori | kaore e taea | ||
| The word "kaore e taea" in Maori can also mean "impossible" or "not possible". | |||
| Samoan | lē mafai | ||
| "Lē mafai" can also be interpreted as "it's impossible," "it can't be done," or "it is not allowed." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | hindi magawa | ||
| "Hindi magawa" is also used to refer to something that is difficult or impossible to do. | |||
Unable in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jan atiri | ||
| Guarani | pituva | ||
Unable in International Languages
| Esperanto | nekapabla | ||
| The word "nekapabla" comes from the root "kapabl-" (able) and the prefix "ne-" (not), meaning "unable". | |||
| Latin | non | ||
| The Latin word "non" can also mean "not" or "do not". | |||
Unable in Others Languages
| Greek | ανίκανος | ||
| The word "ανίκανος" comes from the Ancient Greek word "α-," meaning "not," and "νικάω," meaning "to conquer or prevail." | |||
| Hmong | tsis taus | ||
| The term "tsis taus" in Hmong can also mean "cannot" or "impossible". | |||
| Kurdish | nekarîn | ||
| The Kurdish word "nekarîn" is derived from the Persian word "nakardãn" which means "unable to do". | |||
| Turkish | yapamaz | ||
| The word "yapamaz" is derived from the verb "yapmak" (to do) and the negative suffix "-maz". It can also be used to express impossibility or unwillingness. | |||
| Xhosa | ayikwazi | ||
| The word "ayikwazi" is derived from the Xhosa root "kwazi" meaning "can", and the negative prefix "ayi-" meaning "not". Hence, "ayikwazi" literally means "not can"} | |||
| Yiddish | ניט געקענט | ||
| The Yiddish 'nit geḳent' ('unable') originates from Middle High German, where the verb 'kunnen' (today: 'können') means both 'to know how' and 'to be able'. | |||
| Zulu | ayikwazi | ||
| Despite its negative connotation, the Zulu word "ayikwazi" also has an endearing implication of inadequacy that can be used in a humorous or affectionate context. | |||
| Assamese | অক্ষম | ||
| Aymara | jan atiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | असमर्थ | ||
| Dhivehi | ނުވުން | ||
| Dogri | असमर्थ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hindi kaya | ||
| Guarani | pituva | ||
| Ilocano | awan ti kabaelan | ||
| Krio | nɔ ebul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ناتوانێت | ||
| Maithili | असमर्थ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯉꯝꯗꯕ | ||
| Mizo | thei lo | ||
| Oromo | dadhabuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଅସମର୍ଥ | ||
| Quechua | mana atiq | ||
| Sanskrit | अक्षम | ||
| Tatar | булдыра алмый | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣይከኣልን እዩ | ||
| Tsonga | hluleka | ||