Spanish word

incompetencia

Pronunciation

IPA/iŋkompeˈtenθja/

Meaning

  • feminine nounincompetence

Example

La incompetencia se nota en el trabajo.

Incompetence shows up at work.

Illustration for incompetencia (incompetence)

More examples

Los clientes notaron la incompetencia del servicio.

Customers noticed the service's incompetence.

Core concept

Lack of the skills or knowledge needed to perform a required task.

Common phrases

  • mostrar incompetencia

    show incompetence

  • por incompetencia

    because of incompetence

  • incompetencia profesional

    professional incompetence

Similar words

incapacidad: Lack of the capacity or powers needed to accomplish a job or task.
inexperiencia: Insufficient hands-on exposure to a role or situation, leading to unskilled behavior.
ineptitud: Marked ineptness or faulty execution that reflects poor training or technique.
deficiencia: Deficiency in essential abilities or parts that causes reduced effectiveness.

Definition in Spanish

Incapacidad o insuficiencia de conocimientos o destrezas necesarias para desempeñar correctamente una función.

Word origin

The word comes from Latin in- "not" plus competentia "suitability", from competere "to be suitable", and it denotes a lack of suitability to perform a role.

Usage tips

  • In many contexts, incompetencia reads as a blunt accusation, so speakers often choose softer phrasing such as falta de formación or necesita más práctica.

Other meanings

  • ineptitudenoun
  • ineptnessnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • incompetenteincompetentadjective
  • incompetentementeincompetentlyadverb

Word lists with this word