A friendly robot arm perfectly placing cherries on a long row of identical cupcakes on a clean counter.

eficiente

eh-fee-SYEHN-teh

adjectivem or fB1

efficient?achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort

Also:resourceful?using materials or time wisely

📝 In Action

Ella es una secretaria muy eficiente.

She is a very efficient secretary.

Necesitamos un motor más eficiente para ahorrar gasolina.

We need a more efficient engine to save gas.

El uso eficiente del tiempo es clave en este trabajo.

The efficient use of time is key in this job.

Word Connections

Synonyms

eficaz (effective)
competente (competent)
productivo (productive)

Antonyms

ineficiente (inefficient)
vago (lazy)
lento (slow)

Common Collocations

energía eficiente – efficient energy
servicio eficiente – efficient service
manera eficiente – efficient way

💡 Grammar Points

One ending for everyone

This word ends in -e, which means it stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. You can say 'un hombre eficiente' or 'una mujer eficiente' without changing the ending.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Eficiente vs. Eficaz

Mistake: "Using 'eficiente' when you just mean 'it works'."

Correction: Use 'eficaz' if something achieves a result, but use 'eficiente' if it achieves that result without wasting time, money, or energy.

⭐ Usage Tips

Sounding Professional

In a job interview, use 'eficiente' to describe your work style. It's a high-value word that employers love to hear.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: eficiente

Question 1 of 1

How would you describe a machine that does a lot of work but uses very little electricity?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

eficiencia(efficiency) - noun

eficientemente(efficiently) - adverb

eficacia(effectiveness) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'eficiente' always a positive word?

Yes, it is almost always used as a compliment or to describe high-quality performance in people, systems, or tools.

Should I use 'eficiente' or 'eficaz' for a medicine?

Usually 'eficaz' (effective) is better for medicine because you care that it cures you. 'Eficiente' would imply the medicine works with very few ingredients or very quickly.