Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Smart" in Spanish: inteligente
inteligente
Smart in Spanish is inteligente. It does not change for gender: Él es inteligente. Ella es inteligente. The plural is inteligentes.
School praise
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How to pronounce inteligente
Say it
een-teh-lee-HEN-teh
/in.te.li.ˈxen.te/
een-teh-lee-HEN-teh. Stress HEN in inteligente. Soft g before e sounds like English h.
"Smart" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| inteligente | smart, intelligent Same for masculine and feminine. | Same for masculine and feminine. |
| inteligentes | smart (plural) For more than one person. | For more than one person. |
| muy inteligente | very smart Strong praise. | Strong praise. |
| una idea inteligente | a smart idea For plans and solutions. | For plans and solutions. |
How to use inteligente in real life
- 1School praise
Tu hijo es inteligente en mates.
Your son is smart in math.
Inteligente stays the same for a boy.
- 2Work meeting
Esa propuesta es inteligente y clara.
That proposal is smart and clear.
Inteligente for an idea.
- 3Team talk
Ustedes son inteligentes resolviendo problemas.
You all are smart at solving problems.
Inteligentes plural with ustedes.
Mistakes English speakers make with inteligente
Incorrect: Ella es inteligentes.
Correct: Ella es inteligente.
Singular inteligente for one person; inteligentes is plural.
Incorrect: Él es inteligenteo.
Correct: Él es inteligente.
Do not add -o. Inteligente has one form for gender.
Good to know
Inteligente is the neutral school-and-work word across Latin America. Listo/a can mean smart in some regions, but it also means ready, so beginners should stick with inteligente first.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reviewing a friend’s study plan
ChatPal
Tu plan es inteligente. Empiezas por lo difícil.
Your plan is smart. You start with the hard part.
You
Gracias. Quiero lucir inteligente el viernes.
Thanks. I want to look smart on Friday.
ChatPal
Vas a estar inteligente y preparado.
You’ll be smart and prepared.
You
Ojalá. Repaso una hora más.
Hopefully. I’ll review one more hour.
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 Spanish
Does inteligente change for gender?
No. Inteligente is the same for men and women. Plural: inteligentes.
How do I pronounce inteligente?
een-teh-lee-HEN-teh. Soft g like English h before e.
Smart idea or smart person?
Both work: una persona inteligente, una idea inteligente.
Listo or inteligente?
Prefer inteligente for “smart.” Listo also means ready.
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
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