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cerebral

seh-reh-BRAHL/θeɾeˈβɾal/

“cerebral” means “cerebral” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

cerebral

Also: brain
Adjectivem/fB1Neutral
A simple, colorful illustration showing a human head outline in profile with a large, detailed brain visible inside.

📝 In Action

El paciente sufrió daño cerebral tras el accidente.

B1

The patient suffered cerebral damage (brain damage) after the accident.

La corteza cerebral es la parte exterior del cerebro.

B2

The cerebral cortex is the outer part of the brain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encefálico (encephalic)

Common Collocations

  • hemorragia cerebral – cerebral hemorrhage (brain bleed)
  • cirugía cerebral – brain surgery

intellectual, analytical

Also: highbrow
Adjectivem/fC1Formal
A simple illustration of a person sitting cross-legged, focused and deep in thought, with a stylized, glowing lightbulb floating above their head.

📝 In Action

El director tiene un estilo muy cerebral; sus películas son complejas y requieren mucha atención.

C1

The 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.

C1

She is more analytical than emotional when making important decisions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • emocional (emotional)
  • instintivo (instinctive)

Common Collocations

  • trabajo cerebral – intellectual work
  • ejercicio cerebral – mental exercise

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cerebral" in Spanish:

analytical→brain→cerebral→highbrow→intellectual→

✏️ 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

👥 Word Family▼
cerebro(brain) — Noun
cerebelo(cerebellum) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Late Latin word *cerebralis*, which is derived from *cerebrum*, meaning 'brain.' It entered Spanish as a descriptive word for anything related to the physical brain.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: cerebralFrench: cérébral

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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.