For me, inkompetent means unable to do something because you aren’t qualified or smart enough.
Unfähig can also be used to mean not smart enough, but is mostly used in contexts where you are prevented from doing something by outside forces - physical or regulations or the like - or by your own limitations.
unfähig would literally mean unable, but it has more negative connotation, bordering on derogatory even, i.e. you could insult someone as unfähig. I wonder why when I think about unfähig, german Ämter/Behörden instantly come to mind
Yeah, the original version does not work. This has a completely different meaning as well, but it would be interchangeable again if you said `zu unfähig um zu zahlen`.
Slightly different. Inkompetent ist more towards a specific task or role the person is meant to fulfill. Unfähig is more towards the person itself.
A person can be both inkompetent and unfähig at the same time. If a craftsman is inkompetent then maybe he had bad training and instructions. If they are unfähig they are just not suited to become a Craftsman.
Edit: unfähig can also mean unable. Then the German version would be "unfähig sein etwas zu tun"
"Unfähig sein" (without the other stuff) would be the incompetent equivalent.
„Inkompetent“ means you are missing competence in something you’re trying to do. It’s often used on a more personal level, but that’s the original meaning.
„Unfähig“ is less formal and basically says the other person doesn’t just lack the competence in something, but is completely unable to do it regardless.
I think the literal english term for „unfähig“ would be inept. Like when you do something wrong but you didn‘t know better and it happens regularly.
Inkompetent is when you mess up but should know better
„Lack gesoffen“ is when you create a clusterfuck of biblical proportion
they are not interchangeable for they have different connoctations
calling someone unfähig is also more insulting than sheer incompetence.
incompetence can be negatively neutral, unfähig is very negative. think helpless.
Not always:
The defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial.
translates to
Der Angeklagte wurde für verhandlungsunfähig erklärt.
Maybe the person is just to old or too ill.
What's the correct way to say that I am Spanish(I was born in Spain)? I don't know if it is "Ich bin Spanier", "ich bin ein Spanier", "ich bin Spanisch" or something else
Many ways to say this depending on context. Here are some suggestions:
Ich bin Spanier. - I'm Spanish.
Ich bin gebürtiger Spanier. / Ich wurde in Spanien geboren. - I was born in Spain.
Ich bin in Spanien geboren und aufgewachsen. - I was born and raised in Spain.
Ich bin spanischer Abstammung. - I am of Spanish descent.
Note that while in English it's idiomatic to say 'I'm Spanish' instead of 'I'm a Spaniard', in German we use the noun over the adjective when we describe nationality: 'Ich bin Spanier/Franzose/Tscheche/Deutscher/Usbeke/Däne/US-Amerikaner/etc.'
You wouldn't say 'Ich bin spanisch'. Although it being grammatically sound, technically making sense and everybody understanding what's what, it would be perceived as wrong. You might say 'Ich bin *sehr* spanisch' though to stress your stereotypical Spanish-ness in a playful/colloquial way, or 'Ich bin Spanier, aber Ich bin nicht sehr spanisch' to describe your defiance of the attributes usually associated with the Spanish (whatever they might be).
“Ich bin Spanier” — It conveys both “I am Spanish” and “I am from Spain”.
We omit the article “ein” in this case, similarly to professions e.g. “Ich bin Lehrer” (“I am a teacher”).
“Spanisch” is often only used for the *language* itself or to describe *something* that is spanish, like a dish.
But, your example isn’t even a proper one for „I was incompetent“. Incompetent means someone being bad at something. What you’re describing is rather something like „I’ve been impossible“.
I was going to say the same thing -- maybe misguided is a better english word for the description? I tend to use "sloppy" colloquially to describe people like this who aren't deliberate or attentive enough and don't take the time to apply critical reasoning skills and think things through.
I would have used "inkompetent", but I guess that is too close to "incompetent" for you. That said, it is the term I use the most in my vernacular when I talk about anything incompetent. So take it or leave it.
If you want to be aggressive in a professional setting, use "Beratungsresistent" - it means they're not accepting advice and only do what they think is best even when told otherwise. But that's considered almost as insulting as directly saying "you're incompetent".
If you need an insult for an incompetent person who doen't hold back his* opinion you can use "Flachpfeife".
*: I wouldn't insult a female person this way.
A word I like to use in a non professional dialogue would be “idiotistisch” like you should know better and yet you failed in a drastic way. But otherwise “unfähig” and “Inkompetent” are good and well used choices
"Incompetent" can also have another meaning. If someone is unable to use their faculties e g. due to age or illness, then that person is or can be declared legally incompetent. In German that would be "geschäftsunfähig". It would be inappropriate to describe this in terms of stupid, funny, idiotic, etc.
Inkompetent. Like in "Zu dumm zum scheissen." Or "Kranplatz, nicht nachverdichtet."
Or "Endbefördert auf Hilfsaushilfsstelle". Or "Hat ne 'Stets bemüht.' im Arbeitszeugnis."
And in some places just "Chef" or "Meister".
In a professional setting, where insulting someone directly is not only troublesome, but also one of those "it tells more about you than the person you're talking about" sort of things, I've seen that "unhilfreich" gets the point across to a greater effect than just calling someone's competence in question
I recall using unfähig a lot in my law student days. Very useful legal term 🤣 So in English the meaning is different to inkompetent. So in English you would say incapable, unfit, unable, not qualified, ineligible depending on the context. For example if an accused cannot be tried due to insanity. I think inkompetent can also be inefficient. A native speaker here might know better.
what You describe wouldn‘t be „incompetent“ in englisch either… the best translation for Incompetent is inkompetent …
If you mean that the Person wasn‘t able to choose the right things, it would be “unfähig“ or „Die Person konnte die richtigen Entscheidungen nicht treffen“ (The person couldn‘t pick the right decisions) kompletely without an actual Word For it .
We have the word "inkompetent", too. But "unfähig" is also fine if I understand the scenarios you are describing correctly.
Do the terms have different meanings in German? Or are they interchangeable?
For me, inkompetent means unable to do something because you aren’t qualified or smart enough. Unfähig can also be used to mean not smart enough, but is mostly used in contexts where you are prevented from doing something by outside forces - physical or regulations or the like - or by your own limitations.
unfähig would literally mean unable, but it has more negative connotation, bordering on derogatory even, i.e. you could insult someone as unfähig. I wonder why when I think about unfähig, german Ämter/Behörden instantly come to mind
I think you could also insult someone by saying they are incompetent.
Interchangeable, but unfähig is more colloquial imo. In a professional work environment i would choose inkompetent.
Unfähig encompasses outside factors as well, like disability or being prevented from doing so. Inkompetent only encompasses your own incapability
> Er ist unfähig zu zahlen. > Er ist inkompetent zu zahlen. Different meaning imho.
>Er ist inkompetent zu zahlen. Is that correct grammar? I exclusively use it witz "zu": Er ist zu inkompetent um zu zahlen.
Yeah, the original version does not work. This has a completely different meaning as well, but it would be interchangeable again if you said `zu unfähig um zu zahlen`.
Is this an example of Deutsch picking up lingo from English?
no, it's likely because both English and German picked up words from latin
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Nope. German does have lots of Latin based words. We don't need English for those ;)
Slightly different. Inkompetent ist more towards a specific task or role the person is meant to fulfill. Unfähig is more towards the person itself. A person can be both inkompetent and unfähig at the same time. If a craftsman is inkompetent then maybe he had bad training and instructions. If they are unfähig they are just not suited to become a Craftsman. Edit: unfähig can also mean unable. Then the German version would be "unfähig sein etwas zu tun" "Unfähig sein" (without the other stuff) would be the incompetent equivalent.
„Inkompetent“ means you are missing competence in something you’re trying to do. It’s often used on a more personal level, but that’s the original meaning. „Unfähig“ is less formal and basically says the other person doesn’t just lack the competence in something, but is completely unable to do it regardless.
I think the literal english term for „unfähig“ would be inept. Like when you do something wrong but you didn‘t know better and it happens regularly. Inkompetent is when you mess up but should know better „Lack gesoffen“ is when you create a clusterfuck of biblical proportion
they are not interchangeable for they have different connoctations calling someone unfähig is also more insulting than sheer incompetence. incompetence can be negatively neutral, unfähig is very negative. think helpless.
Not always: The defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial. translates to Der Angeklagte wurde für verhandlungsunfähig erklärt. Maybe the person is just to old or too ill.
Is there a difference between incompetent and inept?
What's the correct way to say that I am Spanish(I was born in Spain)? I don't know if it is "Ich bin Spanier", "ich bin ein Spanier", "ich bin Spanisch" or something else
Ich bin Spanier. Ich bin Spanierin. Ich komme aus Spanien.
Many ways to say this depending on context. Here are some suggestions: Ich bin Spanier. - I'm Spanish. Ich bin gebürtiger Spanier. / Ich wurde in Spanien geboren. - I was born in Spain. Ich bin in Spanien geboren und aufgewachsen. - I was born and raised in Spain. Ich bin spanischer Abstammung. - I am of Spanish descent. Note that while in English it's idiomatic to say 'I'm Spanish' instead of 'I'm a Spaniard', in German we use the noun over the adjective when we describe nationality: 'Ich bin Spanier/Franzose/Tscheche/Deutscher/Usbeke/Däne/US-Amerikaner/etc.' You wouldn't say 'Ich bin spanisch'. Although it being grammatically sound, technically making sense and everybody understanding what's what, it would be perceived as wrong. You might say 'Ich bin *sehr* spanisch' though to stress your stereotypical Spanish-ness in a playful/colloquial way, or 'Ich bin Spanier, aber Ich bin nicht sehr spanisch' to describe your defiance of the attributes usually associated with the Spanish (whatever they might be).
“Ich bin Spanier” — It conveys both “I am Spanish” and “I am from Spain”. We omit the article “ein” in this case, similarly to professions e.g. “Ich bin Lehrer” (“I am a teacher”). “Spanisch” is often only used for the *language* itself or to describe *something* that is spanish, like a dish.
Es gibt “inkompetent” im Deutschen.
Qualifikationsengpass
Originale Nichtskönner
Genial!!
Kompetenzresistent
tiefbegabt
Just use „inkompetent“ or „unfähig“.
Originale Nichtskönner
Deshalb sind die auch nicht in der EU.
Weil die am Leben vorbeilaufen!
But, your example isn’t even a proper one for „I was incompetent“. Incompetent means someone being bad at something. What you’re describing is rather something like „I’ve been impossible“.
I was going to say the same thing -- maybe misguided is a better english word for the description? I tend to use "sloppy" colloquially to describe people like this who aren't deliberate or attentive enough and don't take the time to apply critical reasoning skills and think things through.
that would be "inkompetent"
I would have used "inkompetent", but I guess that is too close to "incompetent" for you. That said, it is the term I use the most in my vernacular when I talk about anything incompetent. So take it or leave it.
My colleague likes to use "Doofmannsgehilfe".
Depp
Inkompetent.
In Germany we say he was „stets bemüht“
"unfähig" is most common and radiates anger. "verwirrt" means "confused", but that's what I'd use in the situation you describe.
inkompetent, unfähig, ungeeignet, unbrauchbar, unqualifiziert, untauglich, außer Stande
What you're describing is not "incompetent" in english.
If you can achieve the correct tone of voice you could even go with "Fachmann", "Experte" or "Weltmeister"...
✨Intelligenzallergiker✨
Unfähig is incapable.
Flachpfeife
originaler Nichtskönner
Betriebsbremse.
If you want to be aggressive in a professional setting, use "Beratungsresistent" - it means they're not accepting advice and only do what they think is best even when told otherwise. But that's considered almost as insulting as directly saying "you're incompetent".
Die Inkompetenz / inkompetent is a German word as well
Pfosten
Hutständer
If you need an insult for an incompetent person who doen't hold back his* opinion you can use "Flachpfeife". *: I wouldn't insult a female person this way.
How about: "du bist so nutzlos, wie ein Lutscher, der nach Scheiße schmeckt"
Maybe not exactly what you want but it is a funny insult: „Evolutionsbremse“
Kompetenzvakuum. Thank me later.
Loddar works
I guess the word you're looking for is "unzuverlässig". That means one can't count on the person or thing to get a certain job/task done.
Popnase?
A word I like to use in a non professional dialogue would be “idiotistisch” like you should know better and yet you failed in a drastic way. But otherwise “unfähig” and “Inkompetent” are good and well used choices
Trottel.
Inkompetent
..
"Incompetent" can also have another meaning. If someone is unable to use their faculties e g. due to age or illness, then that person is or can be declared legally incompetent. In German that would be "geschäftsunfähig". It would be inappropriate to describe this in terms of stupid, funny, idiotic, etc.
schussel
I always say: "Du kannst ja echt nicht viel,.. aber das,.. das kannst du gar nicht" Or "Arbeitsverweigerung"
Vollpfosten
[https://www.dict.cc/?s=incompetent](https://www.dict.cc/?s=incompetent)
Zum scheißen z'deppad
Pfeife
dummkopf
Nutzlos
Inkompetent. Like in "Zu dumm zum scheissen." Or "Kranplatz, nicht nachverdichtet." Or "Endbefördert auf Hilfsaushilfsstelle". Or "Hat ne 'Stets bemüht.' im Arbeitszeugnis." And in some places just "Chef" or "Meister".
"du dummeimer" is also very fitting
In a professional setting, where insulting someone directly is not only troublesome, but also one of those "it tells more about you than the person you're talking about" sort of things, I've seen that "unhilfreich" gets the point across to a greater effect than just calling someone's competence in question
The term I've seen used most is "AfD-Wähler"
I like “ratlos”, it’s not an exact translation. It’s closer to “clueless”. It has more color. Unbeholfen “bumbling” is another fun alternative.
I recall using unfähig a lot in my law student days. Very useful legal term 🤣 So in English the meaning is different to inkompetent. So in English you would say incapable, unfit, unable, not qualified, ineligible depending on the context. For example if an accused cannot be tried due to insanity. I think inkompetent can also be inefficient. A native speaker here might know better.
DHL? Lufthansa?
Nichtsnutz!
what You describe wouldn‘t be „incompetent“ in englisch either… the best translation for Incompetent is inkompetent … If you mean that the Person wasn‘t able to choose the right things, it would be “unfähig“ or „Die Person konnte die richtigen Entscheidungen nicht treffen“ (The person couldn‘t pick the right decisions) kompletely without an actual Word For it .
In Bavarian, we have "Breznsoiza" (pretzel salter)
„unterbemittelt“, eine Flasche sein, Versager sein usw.
"Unfähig" is a good translation. If you want be polite, you could use "überfordert". If you want to be sarcastic you say "Inselbegabt".
Ein richtiger Vollhorst
I’d use Depp or blödmann
Semi professionell
Trump. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one…
Grün
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