cerebral
/seh-reh-BRAHL/
cerebral
Visualizing "cerebral" as relating directly to the brain.
cerebral(Adjective)
cerebral
?relating to the brain
brain
?used before a noun, e.g., 'brain damage'
📝 In Action
El paciente sufrió daño cerebral tras el accidente.
B1The patient suffered cerebral damage (brain damage) after the accident.
La corteza cerebral es la parte exterior del cerebro.
B2The cerebral cortex is the outer part of the brain.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Like many Spanish adjectives ending in -l, 'cerebral' has the same form whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., daño cerebral (m) and actividad cerebral (f)). You only need to change it for plural: cerebrales.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical Context
In daily conversation, 'del cerebro' (of the brain) is often used, but 'cerebral' is the standard, more formal term for medical reports and scientific discussions.
Visualizing "cerebral" when it means intellectual or focused on deep thought.
cerebral(Adjective)
intellectual
?focused on thought
,analytical
?rational, not emotional
highbrow
?culture/art
📝 In Action
El director tiene un estilo muy cerebral; sus películas son complejas y requieren mucha atención.
C1The director has a very cerebral style; his movies are complex and require a lot of attention.
Ella es más cerebral que emocional al tomar decisiones importantes.
C1She is more analytical than emotional when making important decisions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Contrasting Thought
Use this meaning when you want to highlight that something involves deep, analytical thought, often in contrast to physical effort ('físico') or strong feelings ('emocional').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cerebral
Question 1 of 1
Choose the sentence where 'cerebral' means 'analytical' or 'intellectual' rather than 'related to the physical brain.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'cerebral' lo mismo que 'inteligente'?
Not exactly. While someone 'cerebral' is certainly intelligent, the word emphasizes the *process* of thought—being analytical, rational, or abstract—often in contrast to being emotional or intuitive. It focuses on how the mind works, not just how smart someone is.