incompetent
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incompetent
Not having the necessary skills, knowledge, or qualifications for a particular task or profession; incapable.
Der Handwerker war völlig inkompetent und hat mehr Schaden angerichtet als repariert.
The tradesman was completely incompetent and caused more damage than he repaired.
incompetent
In a legal or medical sense, not capable of making legally valid decisions or participating in proceedings (e.g., legally incapacitated, unfit to stand trial).
Aufgrund seiner fortgeschrittenen Demenz wurde der Mann vom Gericht für inkompetent erklärt.
Due to his advanced dementia, the man was declared incompetent by the court.
The word is composed of the prefix 'in-' and the adjective 'kompetent' (competent). The prefix 'in-' here means 'not' or 'un-' and expresses the opposite. 'Inkompetent' (incompetent) is therefore the direct opposite of 'kompetent' (competent).
Ein kompetenter Arzt hätte die Diagnose sofort erkannt.
A competent doctor would have recognized the diagnosis immediately.
The adjective can stand before a noun or be used with the verb 'sein' (to be). It is often supplemented with the preposition 'für' (for) to say what someone lacks competence for.
Er ist ein inkompetenter Politiker.
He is an incompetent politician.
This meaning is a technical term from legal and medical language. It is used when a person is officially classified, e.g., by a court or a medical assessment, as not capable of making decisions.
Nach dem Gutachten wurde der Patient für prozessual inkompetent erklärt.
After the assessment, the patient was declared procedurally incompetent.
unable
Unfähig generally means that someone cannot do something and can express a complete inability. Inkompetent emphasizes a lack of knowledge, professional expertise, or qualifications for a task or profession. Use unfähig for a specific inability and inkompetent for professional shortcomings.
Wegen ihres fehlenden Fachwissens ist sie für den technischen Bericht inkompetent.
Because of her lack of specialized knowledge, she is incompetent at preparing the technical report.
Ohne Hilfe ist sie unfähig, den technischen Bericht zu erstellen.
Without help, she is unable to prepare the technical report.
