At the A1 level, you don't need to master the complex grammar of غير كفؤ, but it is helpful to recognize it as a way to say 'not good at a job'. Think of it as two pieces: Ghayr (not) and Kufu' (good/capable). You might hear a teacher say it about a character in a story who cannot do their work. At this stage, focus on the basic meaning: 'bad at working'. You can use it in very simple sentences like 'He is not competent' (Huwa ghayr kufu'). It's a 'big word' for a beginner, so using it will make you sound very advanced! Just remember that 'Ghayr' is like 'not' and it always comes before the word it describes. Don't worry about the plural or feminine forms yet; just learn the basic masculine singular form. If you see it in a text, know that it's a negative description of someone's ability to do a task. It's much more formal than saying 'bad' (sayyi').
At the A2 level, you should start recognizing that غير كفؤ is used for professional skills. You can start using the feminine form غير كفؤة (Ghayr Kufu'ah) when talking about a woman. For example, 'The nurse is incompetent' (Al-mumarriza ghayr kufu'ah). You should also notice that this word is often followed by the letter 'Li' (لـ) to show what the person is incompetent at. Example: 'Ghayr kufu' li-hadha al-amal' (Incompetent for this work). This level is about building simple but correct sentences. You should also be able to distinguish between being 'lazy' (kasool) and being 'incompetent' (ghayr kufu'). One is about effort, the other is about skill. Practice saying it to describe people in news stories or simple work scenarios. It is a very useful word for describing why someone might lose their job.
At the B1 level, you are moving into intermediate territory where nuances matter. You should understand that غير كفؤ is a formal term. You would use it in an email or a formal discussion, but probably not when joking with friends. You should also learn the plural form غير أكفاء (Ghayr Akfi'a'). This is a 'broken plural', which is common in Arabic. You should be able to use it in sentences like 'The company fired the incompetent managers'. At this level, you should also be comfortable using the word with different tenses. For example, 'He was incompetent' (Kana ghayr kufu') or 'He will be incompetent if he doesn't study' (Sayakunu ghayr kufu'...). You should also start to see how it relates to the noun 'Kafa'ah' (competence). Understanding the root (K-F-') will help you connect it to other words like 'Mukafi'' (equivalent) or 'Kafa' (to be enough). This deepens your vocabulary web.
At the B2 level, you should use غير كفؤ with precision in professional and academic contexts. You should understand the grammatical structure (Idafa) and why 'Kufu'' is technically genitive. You should also be able to use it in complex sentences with relative clauses. For example: 'The administration, which was incompetent, led the country to a crisis'. At this level, you should compare غير كفؤ with synonyms like 'Ghayr Mu'ahhal' (unqualified) and 'Aajiz' (incapable). You should know that غير كفؤ specifically targets the lack of skill to perform a job effectively. You should also be aware of the 'Al-' placement rules—how to say 'the incompetent employee' correctly (Al-muwazzaf al-ghayr kufu'). You are expected to use this word in essays about management, politics, or social issues. It is a key word for discussing meritocracy vs. nepotism (wasta).
At the C1 level, you should have a native-like grasp of غير كفؤ. You should be able to use it in high-level debates and professional reports. You should also be familiar with related abstract concepts like 'انعدام الكفاءة' (lack of competence) and 'عدم الأهلية' (ineligibility). You should understand the historical and etymological roots of 'Kufu'', including its use in Islamic law (Kafa'ah in marriage) and how that differs from the modern professional meaning. Your usage should be flawless, including the correct pluralization and gender agreement in complex, multi-layered sentences. You should also recognize the rhetorical power of the word; calling a public figure غير كفؤ is a significant political critique. You should be able to discuss the sociolinguistic implications of using such a formal term in different Arabic dialects versus Modern Standard Arabic.
At the C2 level, you master the full spectrum of the word's utility, including its subtle connotations in literature and classical texts. You can distinguish between غير كفؤ and more obscure classical terms for incompetence or inadequacy. You can use the word in stylistic ways, perhaps employing it in irony or sophisticated satire. You understand the legal precedents where 'incompetence' (عدم الكفاءة) is defined in various Arab jurisdictions. You are able to translate the term into English and other languages while capturing the exact level of formality and professional weight it carries. You can also lead discussions on how the concept of 'Kafa'ah' has evolved from a tribal/social matching concept to a modern, merit-based professional standard. Your command of the grammar is instinctual, and you can navigate the 'Al-' placement debate with an understanding of both prescriptive and descriptive linguistic views.

غير كفؤ 30초 만에

  • A formal term for 'incompetent' in Arabic.
  • Used primarily in professional and political contexts.
  • Consists of 'Ghayr' (not) and 'Kufu'' (competent).
  • Requires gender and number agreement for the second part.
The term غير كفؤ (Ghayr Kufu') is a sophisticated Arabic compound adjective used to describe a lack of competence, proficiency, or the necessary qualifications to perform a specific task or hold a particular position. In the landscape of Arabic vocabulary, this term sits at the intersection of professional evaluation and personal critique. To understand its essence, one must break down its components. The word Ghayr (غير) functions as a negator, similar to the English prefixes 'un-', 'in-', or 'non-'. The second part, Kufu' (كفؤ), stems from the Arabic root k-f-' (ك-ف-ء), which relates to equality, adequacy, and matching. Therefore, being غير كفؤ literally means not being a 'match' for the requirements of a role.
Professional Context
This is the primary domain for the word. It appears in performance reviews, HR documentation, and legal proceedings to denote that an employee lacks the requisite skills. It is more formal and objective than calling someone 'lazy' or 'bad'.
Political and Social Discourse
In media and political analysis, you will often hear commentators describe officials as غير كفؤ when criticizing government efficiency or the handling of a crisis. It suggests a systemic failure of meritocracy.

تم فصل الموظف لأنه كان غير كفؤ لإدارة المشروع الضخم.

Translation: The employee was dismissed because he was incompetent to manage the huge project.

لا يمكننا الاعتماد على قائد غير كفؤ في هذه الظروف الحرجة.

Translation: We cannot rely on an incompetent leader in these critical circumstances.
When you use this word, you are making a judgment about ability, not necessarily character. A person might be very kind and hardworking but still be غير كفؤ for a technical task like surgery or engineering if they haven't been trained. It is a word that carries weight and should be used with caution in social settings as it can be quite insulting. In the workplace, it is the standard way to express that someone is 'not up to the task'. It is also important to note the plural form Ghayr Akfi'a' (غير أكفاء). Using the correct plural shows a high level of linguistic mastery.

الشركة تعاني من وجود مدراء غير أكفاء.

Translation: The company suffers from having incompetent managers.
Nuance vs. Unqualified
While 'Ghayr Mu'ahhal' (unqualified) means someone lacks the degrees or certificates, غير كفؤ means they might have the degrees but cannot actually perform the work effectively. It's about performance vs. credentials.

أثبتت التجربة أنه غير كفؤ لهذه المهمة.

Translation: Experience proved that he is incompetent for this mission.

من الخطير وضع شخص غير كفؤ في غرفة العمليات.

Translation: It is dangerous to put an incompetent person in the operating room.
Using غير كفؤ correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a compound adjective. In Arabic, 'Ghayr' acts as a 'Mudaf' (the first part of a possessive-like construction), and the adjective following it becomes the 'Mudaf Ilayhi'. This means the word 'Kufu'' will technically carry a kasra or tanween kasr in formal vocalized text, though in most contexts, it is pronounced with a sukun at the end.
Agreement in Gender
When describing a female, you must add the Taa Marbuta to 'Kufu'', making it غير كفؤة (Ghayr Kufu'ah). The word 'Ghayr' remains unchanged regardless of gender or number.

هي موظفة غير كفؤة وتسبب الكثير من المشاكل.

Translation: She is an incompetent employee and causes many problems.
Agreement in Number
For plural subjects, use the broken plural form 'Akfi'a''. Thus, غير أكفاء. This is used for a group of people, typically males or mixed groups. For an all-female group, you would use 'Ghayr Kufu'at' (غير كفؤات).

هؤلاء العمال غير أكفاء للعمل في هذا المصنع.

Translation: These workers are incompetent to work in this factory.

الرجل غير الكفؤ لا يستحق هذا المنصب.

Translation: The incompetent man does not deserve this position.
You can also use it in the predicate of a sentence. For example: 'كان أدائي غير كفؤ' (My performance was incompetent). Note that while 'Ghayr' negates the adjective, it doesn't change the fact that the whole unit functions as a single descriptive phrase. In legal or administrative Arabic, you might see the phrase 'انعدام الكفاءة' (lack of competence), which is the noun form of this concept. However, غير كفؤ is the direct way to describe the person or the action itself.

يعتبر القانون تصرف الطبيب غير كفؤ في هذه الحالة.

Translation: The law considers the doctor's action incompetent in this case.
Common Prepositions
It is often followed by the preposition 'Li' (لـ) meaning 'for' or 'to'. Example: غير كفؤ لهذا المنصب (Incompetent for this position).

أنت غير كفؤ للتعامل مع الزبائن.

Translation: You are incompetent to deal with customers.

لماذا وظفت شخصاً غير كفؤ؟

Translation: Why did you hire an incompetent person?
The phrase غير كفؤ is ubiquitous in specific formal and semi-formal environments across the Arab world. While you might not hear it in a casual conversation at a café between friends (where they might use 'fashil' meaning failure, or 'ma biyifham' meaning he doesn't understand), it is the standard vocabulary for professional and public life.
In the Corporate World
During annual performance reviews or HR meetings, managers use this term to justify withholding a promotion or initiating a termination. It is considered a precise, non-emotional assessment of a worker's output.

تقرير الموارد البشرية وصفه بأنه غير كفؤ.

Translation: The HR report described him as incompetent.
In News and Media
News anchors and journalists frequently use this term when discussing government failures. For instance, after a bridge collapse or a financial crisis, the media might blame 'incompetent administration' (إدارة غير كفؤة).

انتقدت الصحف الوزير ووصفته بأنه غير كفؤ.

Translation: The newspapers criticized the minister and described him as incompetent.

المحكمة وجدت أن المقاول كان غير كفؤ.

Translation: The court found that the contractor was incompetent.
In Educational Settings
University professors might use this term in academic papers or lectures when discussing management theories or failures in technical systems. It is also used in student evaluations of teaching (though usually behind closed doors).

لا يمكن للطلاب النجاح مع مدرس غير كفؤ.

Translation: Students cannot succeed with an incompetent teacher.

شعر بالإحباط عندما قيل له إنه غير كفؤ.

Translation: He felt frustrated when he was told he was incompetent.
In summary, if you are reading an Arabic newspaper, listening to a business podcast, or watching a legal drama, you will encounter غير كفؤ as the definitive term for lack of skill and ability.
Learners of Arabic often stumble when using غير كفؤ because of its compound nature and specific grammatical rules. One of the most frequent errors is treating 'Ghayr' as a standard adjective that follows the noun, rather than a word that precedes it.
Mistake 1: Incorrect Negation
Some learners try to use 'La' (لا) or 'Laysa' (ليس) directly with the adjective 'Kufu''. While 'Laysa Kufu'an' (ليس كفؤاً) is grammatically correct and means 'He is not competent', غير كفؤ is the standard compound adjective form. Using 'La Kufu'' is incorrect.

خطأ: هو لا كفؤ. صواب: هو غير كفؤ.

Translation: Wrong: He is no competent. Right: He is incompetent.
Mistake 2: Gender Agreement of 'Ghayr'
Learners often try to make 'Ghayr' feminine by adding a Taa Marbuta (Ghayrah). This is a mistake. 'Ghayr' is an invariant particle in this context. Only the second word, 'Kufu'', changes to reflect gender.

خطأ: هي غيرة كفؤة. صواب: هي غير كفؤة.

Translation: Wrong: She is 'ghayrah' incompetent. Right: She is incompetent.
Mistake 3: Pluralization
Using the singular 'Kufu'' for a plural subject is a common error. Ensure you use 'Akfi'a'' (أكفاء) for plural masculine/mixed groups.

خطأ: هم موظفون غير كفؤ. صواب: هم موظفون غير أكفاء.

Translation: Wrong: They are incompetent employee. Right: They are incompetent employees.
Mistake 4: Definiteness (The 'Al-')
When you want to say 'the incompetent person', where do you put the 'Al-'? Putting it on both (al-ghayr al-kufu') is redundant. The most accepted form is 'الشخص غير الكفؤ' or 'الشخص الغير كفؤ' (though purists dislike the latter).

تجنب قول: الموظف الغيرة كفؤ.

Translation: Avoid saying: The 'ghayrah' competent employee.
Arabic is a rich language with many shades of meaning for 'incompetent'. Depending on the context—whether you mean someone is a failure, unskilled, or simply weak—you might choose a different word.
غير مؤهل (Ghayr Mu'ahhal)
Meaning: Unqualified. This refers specifically to a lack of credentials, degrees, or certifications. A person might be 'Mu'ahhal' (has a degree) but 'Ghayr Kufu'' (cannot do the job).

هو غير مؤهل طبياً لهذه الوظيفة.

Translation: He is medically unqualified for this job.
فاشل (Fashil)
Meaning: Failure. This is much harsher and more personal than غير كفؤ. It is often used as an insult in casual speech.

لا تكن فاشلاً في حياتك.

Translation: Don't be a failure in your life.
عاجز (Aajiz)
Meaning: Incapable or helpless. This implies a lack of power or physical/mental ability rather than just a lack of professional skill.

هو عاجز عن اتخاذ القرار.

Translation: He is incapable of making a decision.
ضعيف (Da'if)
Meaning: Weak. In a professional context, 'Muwazzaf Da'if' (a weak employee) is a softer way of saying غير كفؤ, suggesting they need more training.

مستواه في اللغة ضعيف.

Translation: His level in the language is weak.
مقصر (Muqassir)
Meaning: Negligent or falling short. This implies the person has the skill but is not putting in the effort. غير كفؤ means they can't do it; 'Muqassir' means they won't do it properly.

أنت مقصر في واجباتك المنزلية.

Translation: You are falling short in your household duties.

لا نريد موظفين غير أكفاء في فريقنا.

Translation: We don't want incompetent employees in our team.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The word 'Kafa'ah' (from the same root) was traditionally used in Islamic jurisprudence to determine if a husband was a 'suitable match' for his wife in terms of social standing and character.

발음 가이드

UK /ɣajr kʊfʔ/
US /ɡaɪər kʊfʔ/
Stress is on the first syllable of 'Ghayr' and the first syllable of 'Kufu'.
라임이 맞는 단어
Khayr (خير) Dayr (دير) Sayr (سير) Tayr (طير) Lu'lu' (لؤلؤ - partial) Nushu' (نشوء) Wudu' (وضوء) Kufu' (كفؤ)
자주 하는 실수
  • Pronouncing 'Ghayr' as 'Gayr' (with a hard G).
  • Ignoring the glottal stop (hamza) at the end of 'Kufu'.
  • Adding an 'a' at the end of 'Ghayr' (Ghayra).

난이도

독해 3/5

The word 'Ghayr' is easy, but the spelling and hamza of 'Kufu' can be tricky.

쓰기 4/5

Requires knowing the broken plural 'Akfi'a' and gender agreement.

말하기 3/5

The glottal stop at the end of 'Kufu' requires practice for English speakers.

듣기 2/5

Easily recognizable in formal news or office settings.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

غير (Not/Other than) كفؤ (Competent) موظف (Employee) عمل (Work) مدير (Manager)

다음에 배울 것

كفاءة (Competence) جدارة (Merit) إقالة (Dismissal) ترقية (Promotion) مؤهلات (Qualifications)

고급

انعدام الأهلية (Ineligibility) التقصير المهني (Professional negligence) المحسوبية (Nepotism) البيروقراطية (Bureaucracy) الرجل المناسب في المكان المناسب (The right man in the right place)

알아야 할 문법

Idafa Structure with Ghayr

غيرُ كفؤٍ (Ghayru Kufu'in) - Ghayr is the mudaf.

Broken Plurals

أكفاء (Akfi'a') is the plural of كفؤ (Kufu').

Gender Agreement

موظفة غير كفؤة (Muwazzafah ghayr kufu'ah).

Definite Adjectives

الموظف غير الكفؤ (The incompetent employee).

Negation of Adjectives

Ghayr is used for nouns/adjectives, not verbs.

수준별 예문

1

هو غير كفؤ.

He is incompetent.

Simple subject + predicate.

2

أنا لست غير كفؤ.

I am not incompetent.

Negation with 'lastu'.

3

هل هو غير كفؤ؟

Is he incompetent?

Question with 'hal'.

4

هذا العامل غير كفؤ.

This worker is incompetent.

Demonstrative + noun + adjective.

5

هي غير كفؤة.

She is incompetent.

Feminine singular form.

6

المعلم غير كفؤ.

The teacher is incompetent.

Definite noun + adjective.

7

أنت غير كفؤ اليوم.

You are incompetent today.

Second person pronoun.

8

لماذا هو غير كفؤ؟

Why is he incompetent?

Question with 'limadha'.

1

هي ممرضة غير كفؤة في عملها.

She is an incompetent nurse in her work.

Adjective modifying a feminine noun.

2

لا أحب الموظف غير الكفؤ.

I don't like the incompetent employee.

Definite adjective phrase.

3

وجدنا أنه غير كفؤ لهذا المنصب.

We found that he is incompetent for this position.

Use of 'anna' + pronoun.

4

المدير الجديد غير كفؤ تماماً.

The new manager is totally incompetent.

Use of 'tamaman' for emphasis.

5

أصبح غير كفؤ بعد الحادث.

He became incompetent after the accident.

Use of 'asbaha' (became).

6

هل تعتقد أنه غير كفؤ؟

Do you think he is incompetent?

Verb 'ta'taqid' + 'annahu'.

7

هذا الطبيب غير كفؤ، لا تذهب إليه.

This doctor is incompetent, don't go to him.

Imperative negation 'la tadhhab'.

8

كانت الخادمة غير كفؤة في التنظيف.

The maid was incompetent in cleaning.

Past tense 'kanat' + feminine.

1

تم فصله لأنه كان غير كفؤ في إدارة الفريق.

He was fired because he was incompetent in managing the team.

Passive voice 'tumma fasluhu'.

2

الشركة لا توظف أشخاصاً غير أكفاء.

The company does not hire incompetent people.

Plural masculine form 'akfi'a'.

3

إذا كنت غير كفؤ، فلن تنجح هنا.

If you are incompetent, you will not succeed here.

Conditional 'idha' + 'lan' for future negation.

4

يعاني المشروع من مهندسين غير أكفاء.

The project suffers from incompetent engineers.

Verb 'yu'ani' + 'min'.

5

وصفه المدير بأنه غير كفؤ مهنياً.

The manager described him as professionally incompetent.

Adverbial 'mihaniyan'.

6

من الصعب العمل مع زميل غير كفؤ.

It is difficult to work with an incompetent colleague.

'Min al-sa'b' + infinitive.

7

أثبتت النتائج أنه غير كفؤ.

The results proved that he is incompetent.

Verb 'athbatat' (proved).

8

لا نريد أن نبدو غير أكفاء أمام العميل.

We don't want to look incompetent in front of the client.

Verb 'nabdu' (to look/seem).

1

إن تعيين موظف غير كفؤ هو خطأ إداري فادح.

Appointing an incompetent employee is a grave administrative error.

Masdar 'ta'yeen' as subject.

2

الوزير غير كفؤ لمواجهة هذه الأزمة الاقتصادية.

The minister is incompetent to face this economic crisis.

Adjective phrase with 'li-' + masdar.

3

كشفت التحقيقات عن وجود مسؤولين غير أكفاء.

The investigations revealed the existence of incompetent officials.

Verb 'kashafat' + 'an'.

4

لا يمكننا تبرير بقاء شخص غير كفؤ في منصبه.

We cannot justify an incompetent person staying in his position.

Verb 'tubarrir' + masdar.

5

تعتبر المحكمة هذا التصرف غير كفؤ قانونياً.

The court considers this action legally incompetent.

Verb 'ta'tabir' + object + second object.

6

الطلاب يشتكون من وجود أساتذة غير أكفاء.

Students complain about the presence of incompetent professors.

Verb 'yashtakun' + 'min'.

7

أدى غياب الرقابة إلى توظيف عناصر غير كفؤة.

The lack of oversight led to hiring incompetent elements.

Verb 'adda' + 'ila'.

8

من غير المقبول أن يكون القائد غير كفؤ.

It is unacceptable for the leader to be incompetent.

'Min ghayr al-maqbul' + 'an'.

1

غالباً ما يؤدي نظام المحسوبية إلى تصعيد أفراد غير أكفاء.

Nepotism often leads to the promotion of incompetent individuals.

'Yadi ila' + 'tas'eed' (promotion/escalation).

2

تتجلى خطورة المدير غير الكفؤ في قدرته على تدمير معنويات الفريق.

The danger of an incompetent manager manifests in his ability to destroy team morale.

Verb 'tatajalla' (manifests).

3

يجب إعادة النظر في المعايير التي تسمح ببقاء غير الأكفاء في السلطة.

The standards that allow the incompetent to remain in power must be reconsidered.

'I'adat al-nadhar' (reconsideration).

4

إن وصفه بغير كفؤ كان بمثابة رصاصة الرحمة لمسيرته المهنية.

Describing him as incompetent was like the 'mercy bullet' to his career.

Metaphor 'rasasat al-rahma'.

5

لا تقتصر المشكلة على كونه غير كفؤ، بل تتعداها إلى غياب الرؤية.

The problem is not limited to his being incompetent, but extends to the lack of vision.

'La taqtasir... bal tata'addaha'.

6

إن البيروقراطية غالباً ما تحمي الموظف غير الكفؤ من المساءلة.

Bureaucracy often protects the incompetent employee from accountability.

Noun 'al-musaa'alah' (accountability).

7

قد يبدو الشخص كفؤاً في الظروف العادية، لكن الأزمات تكشف غير الأكفاء.

A person may seem competent in normal circumstances, but crises reveal the incompetent.

Contrast between 'kufu'' and 'ghayr akfi'a'.

8

استقالة المدير جاءت بعد اتهامات واسعة بأنه غير كفؤ.

The manager's resignation came after widespread accusations that he was incompetent.

Noun 'ittihamat' (accusations).

1

يعد إسناد المهام الجسيمة إلى عناصر غير كفؤة انتحاراً مؤسسياً.

Assigning major tasks to incompetent elements is considered institutional suicide.

Masdar 'isnad' as subject.

2

تنم تصرفاته عن شخصية غير كفؤة تفتقر إلى أدنى مقومات القيادة.

His actions indicate an incompetent personality that lacks the minimum requirements of leadership.

Verb 'tannumu an' (indicates).

3

في الفلسفة الإدارية، يعتبر الشخص غير الكفؤ عبئاً على الإنتاجية الكلية.

In management philosophy, the incompetent person is considered a burden on overall productivity.

Noun 'ib'an' (burden).

4

لقد تجذر الفساد لدرجة أصبحت فيها المناصب حكراً على غير الأكفاء.

Corruption has become so entrenched that positions have become the exclusive domain of the incompetent.

'Tajadhara' (entrenched) + 'hukran' (monopoly).

5

إن المعضلة تكمن في أن غير الكفؤ غالباً ما يجهل حقيقة عدم كفاءته.

The dilemma lies in the fact that the incompetent person is often ignorant of the reality of his incompetence.

Verb 'yajhalu' (is ignorant of).

6

لا يمكن بناء دولة قوية على أكتاف موظفين غير أكفاء ومستهترين.

A strong state cannot be built on the shoulders of incompetent and reckless employees.

'Ala aktaf' (on the shoulders of).

7

تتجذر أزمة المؤسسة في هيكلية تسمح بتغلغل العناصر غير الكفؤة.

The institution's crisis is rooted in a structure that allows the infiltration of incompetent elements.

'Taghalghul' (infiltration/penetration).

8

إن التاريخ لا يرحم القادة غير الأكفاء الذين أضاعوا فرص التقدم.

History does not forgive incompetent leaders who squandered opportunities for progress.

'La yarham' (does not forgive/pity).

동의어

فاشل غير مؤهل عاجز ضعيف غير قدير ناقص الخبرة مستهتر غير بارع

반의어

كفؤ ماهر قدير مؤهل

자주 쓰는 조합

إدارة غير كفؤة
موظف غير كفؤ
قيادة غير كفؤة
شخص غير كفؤ
حكومة غير كفؤة
عمال غير أكفاء
طبيب غير كفؤ
أداء غير كفؤ
عناصر غير كفؤة
مدير غير كفؤ

자주 쓰는 구문

أثبت أنه غير كفؤ

— He proved that he is incompetent.

بعد شهر من العمل، أثبت أنه غير كفؤ.

بسبب كونه غير كفؤ

— Because of his being incompetent.

طُرد بسبب كونه غير كفؤ.

لا تكن غير كفؤ

— Don't be incompetent (often a warning).

عليك بالدراسة كي لا تكن غير كفؤ.

وصفوه بأنه غير كفؤ

— They described him as incompetent.

وصفوه بأنه غير كفؤ في التقرير.

إنه غير كفؤ بتاتا

— He is absolutely incompetent.

إنه غير كفؤ بتاتاً في الحساب.

شخص غير كفؤ للمسؤولية

— A person incompetent for responsibility.

هو شخص غير كفؤ للمسؤولية الكبيرة.

اختيار غير كفؤ

— An incompetent choice (referring to the selection).

كان هذا اختياراً غير كفؤ من اللجنة.

بشكل غير كفؤ

— In an incompetent manner (adverbial).

أدى المهمة بشكل غير كفؤ.

يبدو غير كفؤ

— He seems incompetent.

الرجل يبدو غير كفؤ من الوهلة الأولى.

غير كفؤ إطلاقاً

— Not competent at all.

أنا غير كفؤ إطلاقاً لهذه المهمة.

자주 혼동되는 단어

غير كفؤ vs غير مؤهل

Means 'unqualified' (no degree). 'Ghayr Kufu'' means 'incompetent' (no skill).

غير كفؤ vs فاشل

Means 'failure'. It is more emotional and insulting than 'Ghayr Kufu'.

غير كفؤ vs عاجز

Means 'incapable' or 'helpless'. Often used for physical or total inability.

관용어 및 표현

"وضع الرجل المناسب في المكان غير المناسب"

— Putting the right man in the wrong place (often implies incompetence).

المشكلة هي وضع الرجل المناسب في المكان غير المناسب.

Formal
"لا ناقة له ولا جمل"

— He has no stake/skill in the matter (can imply incompetence).

هو غير كفؤ، لا ناقة له ولا جمل في هذا العلم.

Informal
"فاقد الشيء لا يعطيه"

— He who lacks something cannot give it (often used for incompetent teachers/leaders).

كيف يعلمنا وهو غير كفؤ؟ فاقد الشيء لا يعطيه.

Literary
"يحرث في البحر"

— Plowing the sea (doing useless work because of incompetence).

إنه غير كفؤ، كأنه يحرث في البحر.

Literary
"تيتي تيتي مثل ما رحتي مثل ما جيتي"

— Going and coming back with nothing (used for incompetent people who achieve nothing).

أرسلناه للمهمة وعاد خائباً، تيتي تيتي...

Slang/Dialect
"كالأطرش في الزفة"

— Like a deaf man at a wedding (clueless and incompetent).

كان في الاجتماع كالأطرش في الزفة لأنه غير كفؤ.

Informal
"يخبص في الكلام"

— Muddling his words (incompetent in speaking).

هو غير كفؤ ويخبص في الكلام دائماً.

Informal
"يبيع الماء في حارة السقايين"

— Selling water in the water-sellers' district (doing something stupidly/incompetently).

محاولته هذه تدل على أنه غير كفؤ، كمن يبيع الماء...

Informal
"حاميها حراميها"

— The protector is the thief (used for incompetent/corrupt guards).

كيف نأمنه وهو غير كفؤ؟ حاميها حراميها.

Proverb
"خبط عشواء"

— Hitting randomly (acting without skill or competence).

تصرفاته تدل على أنه غير كفؤ، فهي خبط عشواء.

Literary

혼동하기 쉬운

غير كفؤ vs كفؤ

It is the positive version.

One means skilled, the other (with Ghayr) means unskilled.

هو كفؤ جداً vs هو غير كفؤ.

غير كفؤ vs كفء

Alternative spelling.

They are the same, but spelling varies by region or font.

كفؤ vs كفء.

غير كفؤ vs كفاءة

It is the noun form.

'Ghayr Kufu'' is the person; 'Adam Kafa'ah' is the state of being incompetent.

لديه كفاءة vs هو غير كفؤ.

غير كفؤ vs مكافئ

Same root.

'Mukafi'' means 'equivalent' or 'rewarding'.

هذا العمل مكافئ لجهده.

غير كفؤ vs أكفاء

Confused with 'أكفياء' (which is not a word) or 'أكفّاء' (blind people).

'Akfi'a' (أكفاء) is competent; 'Akiffa'' (أكفّاء) with a shadda means blind. Be careful!

هؤلاء عمال أكفاء (competent) vs هؤلاء رجال أكفّاء (blind).

문장 패턴

A1

[Subject] + غير كفؤ.

هو غير كفؤ.

A2

[Noun] + غير كفؤ + لـ [Task].

هو غير كفؤ لهذا العمل.

B1

كان + [Subject] + غير كفؤ.

كان الموظف غير كفؤ.

B1

[Verb] + لأنه + غير كفؤ.

فشل لأنه غير كفؤ.

B2

[Noun Definite] + غير الكفؤ + [Verb].

المدير غير الكفؤ استقال.

B2

أثبت + [Subject] + أنه + غير كفؤ.

أثبت الرجل أنه غير كفؤ.

C1

بسبب + [Masdar] + غير الأكفاء.

بسبب تعيين غير الأكفاء.

C2

تنم + [Noun] + عن + [Noun] + غير كفؤ.

تنم أفعاله عن شخص غير كفؤ.

어휘 가족

명사

كفاءة (Competence)
أكفاء (Competent people - plural)
تكافؤ (Equality/Parity)

동사

كافأ (To reward - related root)
كفأ (To be equal/adequate)

형용사

كفؤ (Competent)
مكافئ (Equivalent)
متكافئ (Equal)

관련

أهلية (Eligibility)
جدارة (Merit)
استحقاق (Deservingness)
خبرة (Experience)
مهارة (Skill)

사용법

frequency

Common in professional/media contexts.

자주 하는 실수
  • هي غير كفؤ. هي غير كفؤة.

    You must add the Taa Marbuta for feminine subjects. 'Ghayr' stays the same, but 'Kufu'' must change.

  • هم غير كفؤون. هم غير أكفاء.

    The plural of 'Kufu'' is a broken plural 'Akfi'a'. The sound masculine plural is not used for this word.

  • الرجل الغيرة كفؤ. الرجل غير الكفؤ.

    'Ghayr' never takes a Taa Marbuta. It is an invariant word in this structure.

  • هو لا كفؤ. هو غير كفؤ.

    'La' is used to negate verbs or in specific 'La of absolute negation' structures. For adjectives, 'Ghayr' is the standard.

  • أكفّاء (with shadda) أكفاء (without shadda)

    'Akiffa'' (with shadda) means blind people. 'Akfi'a' (without shadda) means competent people. This is a very common and embarrassing mistake.

Watch the Plural

Always use 'أكفاء' for plural. Avoid the temptation to use 'كفؤين' as it is incorrect in standard Arabic.

Nuance with 'Mu'ahhal'

Remember that someone can be 'Mu'ahhal' (has a PhD) but still 'Ghayr Kufu'' (can't teach). Use the right word for the right criticism.

Be Careful with Insults

Calling a colleague 'Ghayr Kufu'' is a bridge-burning move. Use 'needs development' instead if you want to stay friends.

The Hamza Position

The hamza in 'Kufu'' is at the end. In some fonts, it looks like it's on a 'Waw', but it's technically on the line following the 'f'.

HR Language

If you are writing an Arabic CV or report, 'Kafa'ah' is the gold standard word for competence. Its negation is 'Ghayr Kufu''.

Identify Negation

Whenever you hear 'Ghayr', prepare for a negative quality. It's the fastest way to understand descriptions in news.

The 'Gh' Sound

Practice the 'Ghayn' sound. If you say 'Gair' with a hard G, people might not understand you immediately.

Contract Language

In contracts, look for 'عدم الكفاءة'. It's the noun version of 'Ghayr Kufu'' and is very important for termination clauses.

Wasta vs. Kafa'ah

These are two opposing poles in Arab professional life. Knowing 'Kafa'ah' helps you understand this social dynamic.

The Gear Mnemonic

Remember: Wrong Gear (Ghayr) for the Job (Kufu').

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Ghayr' as 'Gear' and 'Kufu'' as 'Coffee'. If you put the wrong 'Gear' in your 'Coffee' machine, it becomes 'Incompetent' and won't work!

시각적 연상

Imagine a person trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. That person is 'Ghayr Kufu'' for the task.

Word Web

Incompetent Professional Unskilled Failure Ghayr Kufu' Work HR

챌린지

Try to describe three famous characters from movies who are 'Ghayr Kufu' for their jobs (e.g., Inspector Gadget).

어원

From the Arabic root K-F-' (ك-ف-ء). This root historically relates to being equal, a match, or sufficient.

원래 의미: To be a match or equivalent to something else.

Semitic (Arabic).

문화적 맥락

Calling someone 'Ghayr Kufu'' to their face is highly offensive. It is better to use it in the third person or in formal reports.

In the West, 'incompetent' is a very strong word that can lead to lawsuits. In Arabic, it is equally strong in a professional setting.

The concept of 'The Peter Principle' is often translated in Arabic management books using the term 'غير كفؤ'. Political speeches during the Arab Spring often cited 'incompetent leadership' as a reason for protest. Legal documents in Egypt and Saudi Arabia use 'عدم الكفاءة' (incompetence) as a specific legal ground for firing civil servants.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Office/Workplace

  • تقرير الأداء يقول إنه غير كفؤ.
  • نحن بحاجة لاستبدال الموظفين غير الأكفاء.
  • لماذا وظفت شخصاً غير كفؤ؟
  • هو غير كفؤ لإدارة هذا القسم.

Politics/News

  • الحكومة غير كفؤة في معالجة الأزمة.
  • طالب الشعب باستقالة الوزير غير الكفؤ.
  • المعارضة تصف الإدارة بأنها غير كفؤة.
  • أدت القيادة غير الكفؤة إلى الهزيمة.

Law/Legal

  • المحكمة اعتبرت المقاول غير كفؤ.
  • فسخ العقد بسبب كونه غير كفؤ.
  • شهادة الطبيب كانت غير كفؤة.
  • إثبات عدم الكفاءة في العمل.

Education

  • الأستاذ غير كفؤ في شرح المادة.
  • مستوى الطلاب ضعيف بسبب مدرس غير كفؤ.
  • لا يمكننا قبول باحث غير كفؤ.
  • الامتحان كشف عن طلاب غير أكفاء.

Daily Life/Services

  • هذا السباك غير كفؤ، الحنفية لا تزال تسرب.
  • الميكانيكي غير كفؤ، السيارة تعطلت ثانية.
  • لا تذهب لذلك الحلاق، إنه غير كفؤ.
  • خدمة العملاء في هذه الشركة غير كفؤة.

대화 시작하기

"ماذا تفعل إذا كان مديرك في العمل غير كفؤ؟"

"هل تعتقد أن نظام التعليم يخرج شباباً غير أكفاء؟"

"كيف يمكننا قياس ما إذا كان الشخص كفؤاً أم غير كفؤ؟"

"هل سبق لك أن تعاملت مع طبيب غير كفؤ؟"

"لماذا يصل بعض الأشخاص غير الأكفاء إلى مناصب عالية؟"

일기 주제

اكتب عن موقف تعاملت فيه مع شخص غير كفؤ.

كيف تشعر عندما يتم وصفك بأنك غير كفؤ؟

هل المحسوبية هي السبب الرئيسي لوجود موظفين غير أكفاء؟

صف المدير المثالي والمدير غير الكفؤ.

ما هي الحلول المقترحة للتخلص من العمالة غير الكفؤة؟

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It is formal but not necessarily 'polite'. It is a direct criticism of someone's ability. In a social setting, it is considered a harsh insult. In a professional setting, it is a standard technical term.

You add a Taa Marbuta to the second word: 'Ghayr Kufu'ah' (غير كفؤة). The word 'Ghayr' does not change.

The plural is 'Ghayr Akfi'a'' (غير أكفاء). Note that 'Akfi'a' is a broken plural.

Usually, it is used for people or their actions (like 'performance' or 'management'). For a broken tool, you would use 'mu'attal' (broken) or 'ghayr salih' (not working).

'Ghayr Kufu'' is professional and objective (lacking skill). 'Fashil' is personal and subjective (a failure). You would use 'Ghayr Kufu'' in an HR report and 'Fashil' in a heated argument.

Both are used. 'Al-Muwazzaf al-ghayr kufu'' is very common in modern Arabic. Purists prefer 'Al-Muwazzaf ghayr al-kufu''. Avoid 'Al-Ghayr Al-Kufu''.

'Ghayr' can take different case endings (Ghayru, Ghayra, Ghayri) depending on its position in the sentence, but its form doesn't change for gender or number.

The root is K-F-' (ك ف ء), which relates to matching or being equal.

Yes, 'Laysa Kufu'an' (ليس كفؤاً) is a correct way to say 'He is not competent' using a verb instead of a compound adjective.

In dialects, people usually use other words like 'ma biyifham' (doesn't understand) or 'ghashim' (clueless/inexperienced). 'Ghayr Kufu'' remains mostly in the realm of Fusha (MSA).

셀프 테스트 178 질문

writing

اكتب جملة تصف فيها مديراً لا يعرف كيف يدير فريقه.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

حول الجملة التالية للمؤنث: 'هو مهندس غير كفؤ'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

استخدم كلمة 'غير أكفاء' في جملة عن السياسة.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

اكتب فقرة قصيرة (3 جمل) عن مخاطر وجود طبيب غير كفؤ.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

ما الفرق بين 'غير كفؤ' و'غير مؤهل'؟ اكتب جملة لكل منهما.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

اكتب رسالة شكوى قصيرة لشركة عن موظف غير كفؤ.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

كيف تصف شخصاً يحاول القيام بشيء وهو لا يعرف عنه شيئاً؟

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

اكتب جملة باستخدام 'غير كفؤ' مع الفعل 'أصبح'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

استخدم 'غير كفؤ' في سياق رياضي.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

اكتب جملة تعبر فيها عن رأيك في 'المحسوبية' (nepotism).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

قل باللغة العربية: 'He is an incompetent driver.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

قل باللغة العربية: 'The company has incompetent employees.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

تحدث لمدة دقيقة عن مخاطر توظيف شخص غير كفؤ في المطار.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

كيف تطلب من مديرك تغيير زميل عمل غير كفؤ؟

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

انطق الكلمة التالية بشكل صحيح مع التركيز على الهمزة: 'غير كفؤ'.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

قل: 'She is incompetent in cooking.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

ناقش الجملة التالية: 'المحسوبية تصنع مسؤولين غير أكفاء'.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

قل: 'I don't want to be incompetent.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

صف شعورك إذا قال لك أحدهم أنك غير كفؤ.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

قل: 'The new system is incompetent.' (Note: use 'ghayr fa'al' for systems usually, but try 'ghayr kufu' if describing its 'performance').

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: هو موظف غير كفؤ) ماذا سمعت؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: نحن لا نوظف غير الأكفاء) من الذي لا توظفه الشركة؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: أثبتت التحقيقات أنه كان غير كفؤ) ماذا أثبتت التحقيقات؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: الإدارة غير الكفؤة تسبب خسائر) ما هي نتيجة الإدارة غير الكفؤة؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: هل تعتقدين أنها غير كفؤة؟) لمن يوجه السؤال؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: هؤلاء مهندسون غير أكفاء) ما هي مهنة الأشخاص؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: لا يمكننا البقاء مع مدير غير كفؤ) ما هو القرار؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: أداؤك كان غير كفؤ اليوم) متى كان الأداء سيئاً؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: الوزير غير كفؤ لمواجهة الأزمة) لماذا انتقدوا الوزير؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: غير الأكفاء يفسدون العمل) ماذا يفعل غير الأكفاء؟

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence about an incompetent driver.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a short dialogue between a boss and an incompetent employee.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Discuss why meritocracy is important in 3 sentences.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: غير كفؤة) Is this referring to a male or female?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Describe an incompetent politician.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'They are incompetent.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: الموظف غير الكفؤ لا يستحق الترقية) Who doesn't deserve the promotion?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence using 'Ghayr Kufu' and 'Wasta'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'This is an incompetent administration.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: غير أكفاء) How many people are being described?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Incompetence leads to failure.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Ask: 'Why is he incompetent?'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: لست غير كفؤ) Does the speaker think they are competent?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence about an incompetent student.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Incompetent people should not lead.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: الشركة تعاني) Why is the company suffering? (Assume context of 'ghayr akfi'a').

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The court found him incompetent.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'I am looking for a competent, not incompetent, partner.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: كان غير كفؤ تماماً) How incompetent was he?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Describe the result of an incompetent doctor's work.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Don't be incompetent at your job.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: غير كفؤ لهذا) What is he incompetent for?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence about an incompetent cook.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'The manager is incompetent, we need a new one.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

(Audio: هل هو كفؤ أم غير كفؤ؟) What is the speaker asking?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

/ 178 correct

Perfect score!

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