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ingenio

een-HEN-yoh/inˈxenjo/

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

ingenuity, wit

Also: talent
NounmB2
A small mouse using a spoon and a piece of string to create a clever pulley system to lift a piece of cheese.

📝 In Action

Tuvo el ingenio de arreglar el coche con un clip.

B1

He had the ingenuity to fix the car with a paperclip.

Es una comedia llena de ingenio y humor.

B2

It is a comedy full of wit and humor.

Para sobrevivir en la selva, necesitó todo su ingenio.

C1

To survive in the jungle, he needed all his cleverness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • astucia (cunning/cleverness)
  • chispa (spark/wit)

Antonyms

  • torpeza (clumsiness/stupidity)

Common Collocations

  • aguzar el ingenio – to sharpen one's wits
  • ingenio vivo – quick wit

Idioms & Expressions

  • más vale maña que fuerza – skill and ingenuity are better than physical strength

sugar mill

Also: machine
NounmC1
Caribbean & Latin America
A traditional colonial-style factory building with a large water wheel and tall chimneys surrounded by green sugar cane stalks.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo trabajó en un ingenio azucarero en Cuba.

B2

My grandfather worked in a sugar mill in Cuba.

El ingenio de vapor revolucionó la industria.

C1

The steam machine revolutionized the industry.

Visitamos las ruinas de un antiguo ingenio colonial.

C2

We visited the ruins of an old colonial sugar mill.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fábrica (factory)
  • máquina (machine)

Common Collocations

  • ingenio azucarero – sugar mill

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ingenio" in Spanish:

ingenuity→machine→sugar mill→talent→wit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ingenio

Question 1 of 3

Which of these phrases means 'to sharpen one's wits' or think harder?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ingenioso(ingenious/clever) — Adjective
ingeniero(engineer) — Noun
ingeniería(engineering) — Noun
ingeniar(to devise/contrive) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'ingenium', which meant 'innate quality', 'nature', or 'natural talent'. This is the same root that gave English the word 'engine' and 'engineuity'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: engineFrench: enginItalian: ingegno

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'ingenio' to describe a car engine?

No. In modern Spanish, you should use 'motor'. 'Ingenio' only refers to machines in a very old-fashioned or poetic sense, or specifically in the sugar industry.

How do I say 'clever' using this word?

You would use the adjective form: 'ingenioso' (masculine) or 'ingeniosa' (feminine).

Is 'ingenio' formal?

It is neutral. You can use it in everyday conversation to praise a friend's clever idea, but it also appears in literature and formal writing.