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tl;dr: What is a less extreme (but still noticeable) alternative to the word "fluent", when saying e.g. "I am fluent in C++/Python/whatever?"

I think I can call myself "fluent" in C#, because I know the language and runtime very well, and I'm very familiar with the .NET framework's APIs and classes, etc.

I would like to claim the same thing for Python and C++. But while I can program in Python (I did so for an entire summer, making a website with Django), for example, I would not call myself fluent because my code isn't always "Pythonic" (e.g. using map/filter vs. list comprehensions), and I'm not too intimate with some aspects of the language and standard library yet (e.g. the introspection API, etc.).

Is there a word or phrase I can use on e.g. a resume to describe what I know?

I can think of "very familiar with", but is there a better word/phrase I can use?

user541686
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4 Answers4

30

Would "proficient" be useful, if not that, "competent". Both words suggesting a comfort with tasks given within a certain range.

Irwin
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7

If you are referring to a natural spoken language, one step down from fluent would be "conversant", such as "Fluent in French, conversant in Spanish."

For programming languages, I usually write something like: "Very experienced in C and C++, familiar with Python and C#". But I agree with Irwin that "proficient" seems to be one step below "fluent", so maybe it goes: fluent --> proficient --> familiar.

stackoverflowuser2010
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5

These are the terms I usually see in real application forms that allow you to pick it from a list:

  • Competent
  • Skilled
  • Experienced
  • Good
  • Full working capacity/capability
Juha Untinen
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  • 6
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2

I'd say you are comfortable using the language. That does not imply you are an expert.

dsocolobsky
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