how to say “able, capable” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /]מְסֻגָּל

If you’ve got some basic Hebrew, you probably know the words יכול[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] (masculine) and יכולה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] (feminine) – can, is able.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /]אתה יכול להגיע למדף העליון?

Can you (a male) reach the top shelf?

Another word for able is מסוגל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] or מסוגלת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /]. But whereas יכול refers to someone’s ability to do something and is more situational, מסוגל is about whether the person is cut out for a task, is intrinsically able or unable, is fit or unfit.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /]אני לא מסוגל להבין איך היא עשתה את זה.

I just can’t understand (am incapable of understanding) how she did that.

מסוגל is a פועל version of the פיעל verb לסגל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] – to fit or to adapt, as used by the rabbis of the Midrash. The word itself comes from the Biblical expression סגולה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] – treasured property(as in עם סגולה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/מסוגל-#.m4a” /] – treasured people), originally a basket of grapes, which is a prized possession. I’m not sure how the rabbis arrived at fitting from treasured property, though it may have something to do with a good fit between owner/leader and possession/people.