agudo
“agudo” means “sharp” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
sharp, pointed
Also: acute
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado con el extremo agudo de la valla.
A2Be careful with the sharp end of the fence.
En la clase de geometría, dibujamos un ángulo agudo.
B1In geometry class, we drew an acute angle.
La punta del lápiz está muy aguda.
A2The tip of the pencil is very sharp.
high-pitched, shrill
📝 In Action
Ella tiene una voz muy aguda.
A2She has a very high-pitched voice.
El silbato emitió un sonido agudo.
B1The whistle emitted a shrill sound.
A veces los violines tocan notas muy agudas.
B2Sometimes violins play very high notes.
sharp/keen, witty
📝 In Action
Los perros tienen un sentido del olfato muy agudo.
B1Dogs have a very keen sense of smell.
Hizo un comentario agudo sobre la situación política.
C1He made a witty/sharp comment about the political situation.
Es una observadora aguda de la naturaleza humana.
B2She is a sharp observer of human nature.
acute, sharp
📝 In Action
Sintió un dolor agudo en la espalda.
B1He felt a sharp pain in his back.
Fue hospitalizado por una bronquitis aguda.
B2He was hospitalized for acute bronchitis.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: agudo
Question 1 of 3
Which of these describes a 'voz aguda'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'acutus', which means 'sharpened' or 'pointed'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'agudo' for a sharp knife?
Technically yes for the point of the knife, but for the cutting edge, Spanish speakers prefer 'afilado' (sharpened).
Does 'agudo' only mean 'sharp'?
No! It's a very flexible word that can mean sharp-pointed, high-pitched, witty, or medically acute.
What is the opposite of 'agudo' for sounds?
The opposite is 'grave', which describes deep, low-pitched sounds.