capacitar
train
Enseñar o preparar a una persona para que pueda hacer algo bien.
Definition & meaning
Capacitar is a regular Spanish verb meaning to train, educate, or qualify someone so that they can perform a task or carry out a function.
It can also mean to enable or authorize someone to do something, especially in formal or professional contexts.
- La empresa capacita a sus empleados. — The company trains its employees.
- El curso capacita a los participantes para trabajar con maquinaria especializada. — The course qualifies participants to work with specialized machinery.
- La ley capacita al organismo para intervenir. — The law authorizes the organization to intervene.
The pronominal form, capacitarse , means to train oneself, gain skills, or become qualified.
- Necesito capacitarme en informática. — I need to train in information technology.
Grammar & Word origin
Capacitar is a regular -ar verb:
- yo capacito
- tú capacitas
- él/ella capacita
- ellos/ellas capacitan
- past participle: capacitado
- gerund: capacitando
It is commonly used as:
- capacitar a alguien — to train someone
- capacitar a alguien para algo — to qualify someone for something
- capacitarse en algo — to train in or acquire skills in something
The word is related to capaz , meaning “capable,” and capacidad , meaning “capacity” or “ability.” It ultimately derives from Latin capax, “capable of holding or accomplishing something.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- formar — to train or educate; broader and often used for general professional or academic development.
- entrenar — to train through repeated practice, especially for practical, physical, or technical performance.
- adiestrar — to train or drill someone in a specific skill; it can sound more specialized or strict.
- preparar — to prepare someone for a task or situation; it does not necessarily imply formal instruction.
- habilitar — to make someone legally or technically qualified, or to enable something.
- instruir — to instruct or teach, with greater emphasis on imparting knowledge.
- facultar — to authorize or empower someone, rather than to train them.
Antonyms
- incapacitar — to disable or make someone unable to act; it is the clearest opposite when capacitar means “to enable.”
- inhabilitar — to disqualify or legally prevent someone from performing a function.
- descalificar — to disqualify someone or declare them unsuitable for a role.
Common phrases & collocations
- capacitar a los empleados — to train employees
- capacitar al personal — to train staff
- capacitar para un trabajo — to qualify someone for a job
- capacitar en una materia — to provide training in a subject
- programa de capacitación — training program
- curso de capacitación — training course
- capacitación profesional — professional training
- capacitarse continuamente — to undergo continuous training
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Examples
El curso tiene como objetivo capacitar a los trabajadores.verb
The course aims to train the workers.
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