inadequate ability

[ɪˈnædɪkwət əˈbɪləti]
noun phrasepl: inadequate abilities
capacidade insuficiente
1. Lack of sufficient skill, competence, or capacity to perform a task or meet requirements
His inadequate ability to speak English prevented him from getting the job.
Sua capacidade insuficiente de falar inglês o impediu de conseguir o emprego.
2. Insufficient proficiency or competence in a particular area or skill
The student's inadequate ability in mathematics affected her overall academic performance.
A capacidade insuficiente da aluna em matemática afetou seu desempenho acadêmico geral.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, acknowledging inadequate ability is often used in professional and educational settings. In Brazil, there is emphasis on developing skills and training to overcome inadequacies, whereas in the USA, there is often more direct feedback about performance gaps in workplaces.
NYC Slang
not cutting it
Synonyms / Sinônimos
insufficient abilitylack of skillincompetencedeficient abilitylimited capabilitypoor ability
Antonyms / Antônimos
adequate abilitysufficient skillcompetenceproficiencyexcellence

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
capacidade insuficiente
Most common and formal usage
General Brazilian
habilidade inadequada
Alternative formal usage
Brazil (Colloquial)
falta de capacidade
More informal variant
Portugal
capacidade insuficiente
Same as Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

incompetencedeficiencyshortcominglimitationcapabilityproficiencyskill gapunderperformance

Related Idioms & Phrases

fall short of requirements
not up to the mark
below par
come up short
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