Italian · Emotions & Descriptions

"Smart" in Italian: intelligente

intelligente

Say it: een-tel-lee-JEN-tehadjective/in.tel.liˈdʒɛn.te/

Smart as in intelligent in Italian is intelligente (een-tel-lee-JEN-teh). Same form for masculine and feminine singular; plural is intelligenti.

School praise

Tua figlia è davvero intelligente.
Your daughter is really smart.
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How to pronounce intelligente

Say it

een-tel-lee-JEN-teh

/in.tel.liˈdʒɛn.te/

Intelligente stresses JEN: een-tel-lee-JEN-teh.

"Smart" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
intelligentesmart / intelligent

Singular any gender.

intelligentismart (plural)

More than one person.

molto intelligentevery smart

Strong praise.

una risposta intelligentea smart answer

Ideas, not clothes.

How to use intelligente in real life

  1. 1School praise

    Tua figlia è davvero intelligente.

    Your daughter is really smart.

    Intelligente after essere.

  2. 2Work idea

    È una soluzione intelligente e semplice.

    It's a smart and simple solution.

    Intelligente for ideas.

  3. 3Friends

    I tuoi compagni sono intelligenti.

    Your classmates are smart.

    Plural intelligenti.

Mistakes English speakers make with intelligente

Incorrect: È smart.

Correct: È intelligente.

Use intelligente for intelligence.

Incorrect: Una ragazza intelligentA with extra a ending needed.

Correct: Una ragazza intelligente.

Singular does not change for gender.

Good to know

Intelligente praises mind and clever solutions. Stylish clothes are elegante or alla moda—not intelligente. In schools teachers use it freely without sounding stiff.

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Talking about a classmate

  1. ChatPal

    Chi ha risolto il problema?

    Who solved the problem?

  2. You

    Luca. È molto intelligente.

    Luca. He's very smart.

  3. ChatPal

    Anche la sua presentazione era intelligente.

    His presentation was smart too.

  4. You

    Sì. Vorrei essere così intelligente.

    Yes. I'd like to be that smart.

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"Smart" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Smart" in Italian

Gender forms?

Singular intelligente for all; plural intelligenti.

Smart clothes?

Elegante or di classe—not intelligente.

Clever vs smart?

Intelligente covers both in everyday talk.

Opposite?

Stupido is harsh; poco intelligente is softer.

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