capaz

Galician

Etymology

Attested since the 18th century. Ultimately from Latin capāx.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kɑˈpaθ], (western) [kɑˈpas]

Adjective

capaz m or f (plural capaces)

1. able, capable
   • 1775, María Francisca Isla y Losada, Romance:

     Anque à prea non hègrande
     si ca si, ò sacristan
     disque à pestàna do figado
     se lle hiba alegrando já.
     Ô cont'hè, si enturra n'eso
     Deus me libre das suas más,
     que'anque eu non queira, na Coba
     de chantarme heche capàz.

     Although the booty is not large,
     anyhow, the sacristan's
     liver's eyes, reportedly,
     were shinning bright.
     The issue is, if he persists,
     God save me from his hands,
     that even if I don't want, in the grave
     he is capable of thrusting me

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “capaz”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “capaz”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “capaz”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Macanese

Etymology

From Portuguese capaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaˈpas/, /kaˈpaʃ/

Adjective

capaz

1. well-taught
2. intelligent

   Se pôde, sâm capaz; si nom pôde, sâm capám.

   If you can, you're smart; if you can't, you're useless.

3. capable

   Maquista-maquista qui capaz, falâ quarto língu-língu!

   Macanese are so capable, they can speak four languages!

4. daring

   Iou nunca capaz onçom vai fora na nôti.

   I never dare to go out alone at night.

References

• https://belamaquista.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/capaz/
• https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm#c

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin capāx.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /kaˈpa(j)s/ [kaˈpa(ɪ̯)s]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /kaˈpa(j)s/ [kaˈpa(ɪ̯)s]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /kaˈpa(j)ʃ/ [kaˈpa(ɪ̯)ʃ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /kɐˈpaʃ/

• (Rural Central Brazil) IPA^(key): /kɐˈpa(j)s/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Homophone: capais (Brazil)
• Hyphenation: ca‧paz

Adjective

capaz m or f (plural capazes)

1. able, capable

   Ela é capaz de patinar.

   She is able to skate.

Related terms

• capacidade

Descendants

• Kabuverdianu: kapás
• Macanese: capaz

Interjection

capaz!

1. (South Brazil) no way! (expresses disbelief, sometimes ironically)
2. (South Brazil) no problem; don't mention it (polite response to a thank you)

Further reading

• “capaz”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025
• “capaz”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin capācem (“capable, able”). Compare Portuguese capaz, Galician capaz, French capace, English capacious.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaˈpaθ/ [kaˈpaθ] (Spain)
• IPA^(key): /kaˈpas/ [kaˈpas] (Latin America, Philippines)

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aθ (Spain)
• Rhymes: -as (Latin America, Philippines)
• Syllabification: ca‧paz

Adjective

capaz m or f (masculine and feminine plural capaces)

1. able, capable

   Synonym: hábil

Derived terms

• capazmente

Adverb

capaz

1. (Latin America, sometimes with subjunctive) maybe, perhaps
   • 2004, Juan Ignacio Torres, Salir del placard, Imaginador, →ISBN, [143 page 143]:

     No se quedó enganchada sólo en decirme por qué era gay sino que sentí todo su apoyo por la separación que estaba viviendo. Me decía: “Bueno, mirá, eso pasa, capaz que vuelve, tené paciencia, capaz que te amigás”.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Related terms

• capacidad
• capacitar

Further reading

• “capaz”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Anagrams

• pazca