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1 least
❢ When the least is used as a quantifier followed by a noun to mean the smallest quantity of it is translated by le moins de: to have the least food = avoir le moins de nourriture.But when the least is used as a quantifier to mean the slightest it is translated by le or la moindre: I haven't the least idea = je n'en ai pas la moindre idée. For examples of these and particular usages see A below. For translations of least as a pronoun or adverb see B and C below. The phrase at least is usually translated by au moins. For examples and exceptions see D below. For the phrase in the least see E below.A quantif (the) least (le) moins de ; ( in negative constructions) (le or la) moindre ; they have the least food ce sont eux qui ont le moins de nourriture or le moins à manger ; they have the least chance of winning ce sont eux qui ont le moins de chance de gagner ; they haven't the least chance of winning ils n'ont pas la moindre chance de gagner ; I haven't the least idea je n'en ai pas la moindre idée ; he didn't have the least difficulty in believing her il n'a pas eu la moindre difficulté à la croire ; the least thing annoys him la moindre chose l'agace ; he wasn't the least bit jealous/worried il n'était pas jaloux/inquiet le moins du monde or du tout ; ‘were you frightened?’-‘not the least bit!’ ‘est-ce que tu avais peur?’-‘pas le moins du monde!’B pron le moins ; nobody has very much but we have the least personne n'en a beaucoup mais c'est nous qui en avons le moins ; buy the one that costs the least achète le moins cher (or la moins chère) ; it was the least I could do c'était la moindre des choses! ; the least he could have done was phone the police il aurait au moins pu appeler la police ; that's the least of our problems! c'est le cadet de nos soucis! ; that's the least of it ce n'est pas tout ; she was surprised, to say the least (of it) le moins qu'on puisse dire, c'est qu'elle était surprise.C adv1 ( with adjective or noun) the least le/la moins ; ( with plural noun) les moins ; she was the least satisfied of all c'était elle la moins satisfaite de tous ; the least wealthy/powerful families les familles les moins riches/puissantes ;2 ( with verbs) le moins inv ; I like that one (the) least c'est celui-là que j'aime le moins ; they are the ones who need it (the) least ce sont eux qui en ont le moins besoin ; just when we least expected it juste quand on s'y attendait le moins ; those least able to afford to pay ceux qui peuvent le moins se permettre de payer ; those least able to cope ceux qui ont le plus de mal à se débrouiller ; nobody was very enthusiastic about this idea, the president least of all ou least of all the president personne n'a accueilli cette idée avec enthousiasme, le président encore moins que les autres ; not least because entre autres parce que, à commencer parce que.D at least adv phr ( stating minimum quantity or advantage) au moins ; ( qualifying statement) du moins ; there were at least 50 people in the room il y avait au moins 50 personnes dans la pièce ; it must have cost at least £1,000 cela a dû coûter au moins 1 000 livres sterling ; she's at least 40 elle a au moins 40 ans ; he's at least as qualified as she is il est au moins aussi qualifié qu'elle ; they could at least have phoned! ils auraient au moins pu téléphoner! ; you could at least have told me! tu aurais pu au moins me le dire! ; at least she didn't suffer au moins elle n'a pas souffert ; he's gone to bed-at least I think so il est allé se coucher-du moins, je pense ; he has never been there-at least, that's what he says il n'y a jamais été-du moins, c'est ce qu'il dit ; such people are at the very least guilty of negligence de telles personnes sont au moins coupables de négligence ; candidates should, at the very least, be proficient in two foreign languages les candidats devront maîtriser au moins deux langues étrangères.E in the least adv phr I'm not worried in the least, I'm not in the least (bit) worried je ne suis pas inquiet le moins du monde ; I'm not hungry in the least, I'm not in the least (bit) hungry je n'ai absolument pas faim ; it doesn't bother me in the least ça ne me dérange pas le moins du monde ; it doesn't matter in the least ça n'a pas la moindre importance ; not in the least! pas du tout!, pas le moins du monde!last but not least, last but by no means least enfin et surtout. -
2 able
'eibl1) (having enough strength, knowledge etc to do something: He was able to open the door; He will come if he is able.) capaz2) (clever and skilful; capable: a very able nurse.) competente3) (legally competent: able to vote.) con derecho a•- ablyable adj capaz / hábilto be able to do something poder hacer algo / saber hacer algowill you be able to come to the party? ¿podrás venir a la fiesta?tr['eɪbəl]1 que puede2 (capable) hábil, capaz, competente\SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALLto be able to poder■ will you be able to do it? ¿podrás hacerlo?able seaman marinero hecho1) capable: capaz, hábil2) competent: competenteadj.• capacitado, -a adj.• capaz adj.• competente adj.• entendido, -a adj.• hábil adj.• talentoso, -a adj.'eɪbəl1) (pred)to be able to + inf — poder* + inf; ( referring to particular skills) saber* + inf
to be able to see/hear — poder* ver/oír
to be able to sew/swim — saber* coser/nadar
will you be able to go? — ¿podrás ir?
2) abler 'eɪblər, 'eɪblə(r), ablest 'eɪbləst, 'eɪblɪst ( proficient) hábil, capaz['eɪbl]1. ADJ1)to be able to do sth — (of acquired skills) saber hacer algo; (other contexts) poder hacer algo
I was eventually able to escape — por fin pude escaparme, por fin logré escaparme
2) (=capable) [person] capaz; [piece of work] sólido2.CPDABLE, CANable seaman N — marinero m de primera or patentado
P oder and saber can both translate to be able to, can and could.
Skills
► Use saber when to be able to, can and could mean "know how to":
Can you type? ¿Sabes escribir a máquina?
His wife couldn't drive Su mujer no sabía conducir
Other contexts
► Generally, use poder:
He can stay here Puede quedarse aquí
We have not been able to persuade them No hemos podido convencerlos When can and could are followed by find or a verb of perception - see, hear, feel, taste or smell - they are usually not translated:
I can't find it No lo encuentro
What can you see? ¿Qué ves?
Alternatives to "poder"
► When to be able means "to be capable of", you can often use ser capaz de as an alternative to poder:
I don't think he'll be able to resist it No creo que sea capaz de or pueda resistirlo For further uses and examples, see able, can* * *['eɪbəl]1) (pred)to be able to + inf — poder* + inf; ( referring to particular skills) saber* + inf
to be able to see/hear — poder* ver/oír
to be able to sew/swim — saber* coser/nadar
will you be able to go? — ¿podrás ir?
2) abler ['eɪblər, 'eɪblə(r)], ablest ['eɪbləst, 'eɪblɪst] ( proficient) hábil, capaz
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