Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Smart" in Portuguese: inteligente
inteligente
Note: also: esperto/a
Smart in Portuguese is inteligente for intellect. Esperto/a can mean clever or street-smart, sometimes with a sly edge—choose carefully.
Study praise
Sua explicação foi inteligente e bem clara.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce inteligente
Say it
een-teh-lee-ZHEN-chee
/in.te.li.ˈʒẽ.tʃi/
een-teh-lee-ZHEN-chee. Soft Brazilian g before e.
"Smart" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| inteligente | smart / intelligent Safe praise. | Safe praise. |
| esperto / esperta | clever / sharp Can be admiring or wary. | Can be admiring or wary. |
| muito inteligente | very smart Strong compliment. | Strong compliment. |
| solução inteligente | smart solution Ideas and design. | Ideas and design. |
How to use inteligente in real life
- 1Study praise
Sua explicação foi inteligente e bem clara.
Your explanation was smart and really clear.
Idea quality.
- 2Hiring chat
Procuramos alguém inteligente com inglês fluente.
We’re looking for someone smart with fluent English.
Job criteria.
- 3App feature
O app tem um filtro inteligente para spam.
The app has a smart filter for spam.
Tech sense.
Mistakes English speakers make with inteligente
Incorrect: Ele é smart demais.
Correct: Ele é muito inteligente.
Use inteligente for this meaning.
Incorrect: Ela é esperta (querendo só elogiar estudos).
Correct: Ela é inteligente.
Esperto can sound sly; inteligente is safer school praise.
Good to know
Inteligente is clean praise in Brazilian classrooms and offices. Esperto can mean sharp or cunning depending on tone—listen for context before copying it as a compliment.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reviewing a presentation
ChatPal
Achei o argumento dele bem inteligente.
I found his argument really smart.
You
Concordo — inteligente e sem enrolação.
Agreed — smart and without fluff.
ChatPal
Quer adicionar um exemplo inteligente no slide três?
Want to add a smart example on slide three?
You
Sim. Eu trago um caso curto.
Yes. I’ll bring a short case.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Smart" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Smart" in Portuguese
Inteligente or esperto?
Inteligente for intellect; esperto for clever/street-smart.
Gender forms?
Inteligente is invariant; esperto/esperta changes.
Smart phone?
Usually smartphone in Portuguese too.
How to intensify?
Muito inteligente / superinteligente.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
