The Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) gives counterintuitive results with patients who normally speak non-English languages at home. The aim of this study was to find out more about why patients speaking languages other than English were more enabled in a shorter time than English-speaking patients. A cross-sectional consultation-based questionnaire survey was conducted of 2052 adult patients speaking languages other than English compared with 23790 English-speaking patients in four contrasting study areas in the UK Highest PEI scores in shortest consultation times were associated with South Asian language-speaking patients consulting in their own language. Multiple regression analysis showed that the language factors had an independent effect. We therefore conclude that these patients derive particular benefit from general practice consultations in their own language. Enablement may have a different meaning for patients speaking languages other than English.