lacking ability to

[/ˈlækɪŋ əˈbɪləti tu:/]
verb phrase / adjective phrase
incapaz de / sem capacidade de / não conseguindo
1. not having the skill, knowledge, or power to do something; being unable to perform an action
He is lacking ability to swim properly.
Ele é incapaz de nadar direito.
2. deficient in a particular competence or talent required for a task
The company is lacking ability to compete in the global market.
A empresa carece de capacidade para competir no mercado global.
3. missing the necessary aptitude or qualification
She was lacking ability to understand complex mathematics.
Ela não tinha capacidade de entender matemática complexa.
In Brazilian Portuguese, expressing inability is often softened with phrases like 'não consigo' (I can't manage) rather than the harsher 'incapaz' (incapable), reflecting a more indirect communication style. In American English, this phrase is commonly replaced with more idiomatic expressions like 'can't cut it' or 'not cut out for something.'
NYC Slang
can't hack it / can't cut it
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unable toincapable ofunfit toincompetent topowerless tolacking competence in
Antonyms / Antônimos
capable ofable tocompetent toqualified toskilled inproficient in

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
incapaz de / sem capacidade de
most common usage in everyday speech
Rio de Janeiro
não tendo jeito de / sem aptidão para
colloquial variation common in Rio
São Paulo
destituído de capacidade para / carente de
more formal, common in business contexts
Portugal
destituído de / carente de capacidade para
formal Portuguese variation; less common in casual speech

Related Words

inabilityincompetencedeficiencyincapacityinadequacypowerlessness

Related Idioms & Phrases

not cut out for
not up to the task
out of one's depth
not fit to
fall short of
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