ικανός
Lemma: ικανός
Translation: capable; able; competent; sufficient; adequate; considerable (adjective)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἱκανός (hikanos), meaning 'reaching to, sufficient, adequate'. The word derives from the verb ἱκάνω (hikano) meaning 'to reach, arrive at'. This connects to the English word 'icon' through the shared Indo-European root meaning 'to resemble' or 'be fitting'. The semantic development from 'reaching to' to 'sufficient' to 'capable' shows how physical proximity evolved into metaphorical adequacy and competence.
Mnemonics
- Think 'I can' - ικανός sounds like 'I can' and means capable
- Remember 'icon' - both come from the same root meaning 'fitting' or 'adequate'
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Frequently used in professional and academic contexts to describe competence and qualifications. Often appears in job descriptions, evaluations, and formal assessments. The word carries weight in Greek culture where demonstrating capability and sufficiency is highly valued.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both mean 'sufficient' but αρκετός emphasizes 'enough' while ικανός emphasizes 'capable/adequate'
Confused word:
Έχω αρκετά χρήματα.
I have enough money.
Notes: ικανός often describes people's abilities, while αρκετός more often describes quantities
Mnemonic: ικανός = I CAN (capability), αρκετός = ARE ENOUGH (quantity)