English → French
able /BrE ˈeɪb(ə)l 
, AmE ˈeɪbəl /
adjective
To be able to meaning can is usually translated by the verb pouvoir: I was not able to go = je ne pouvais pas y aller; I was not able to help him = je ne pouvais pas l'aider. The main exception to this occurs when to be able to implies the acquiring of a skill, when savoir is used: he's nine and he's still not able to read = il a neuf ans et il ne sait toujours pas lire.
See the examples in this entry.
1 (having ability to) to be able to do/be pouvoir faire/être
he was/wasn't able to read it il pouvait/ne pouvait pas le lire
she was able to play the piano at the age of four elle savait jouer du piano à quatre ans
I'll be (better) able to give you more information after the meeting je serai en mesure de or
2 (skilled) [lawyer, teacher etc] compétent; (gifted) [child] doué