не умел

didn't know how to

→ не
phrase Rare #28,319
didn't know how to Used for a male subject in the past. It describes not having a particular skill or ability.
RU: Он не умел водить машину.
EN: He didn't know how to drive.

Он даже читать не умел.

He couldn't even read.

Том не умел плавать.

Tom couldn't swim.

Том не умел даже написать собственное имя.

Tom couldn't even write his own name.

Женщины, которых я не умел любить.

The women I didn't know how to love.

— Скафандр и бабочка (2007)

Том не умел сдерживать злость.

Tom couldn't control his anger.

Два года назад я тоже не умел.

I couldn't do it either two years ago.

— War (2002)

Я не умел даже правильно сварить яйцо!

I didn't even know how to boil an egg properly!

— Всё везде и сразу (2022)