Inklingo
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ingenioso

een-hen-YOH-soh/ĩnxeˈnjoso/

witty, clever

Also: sharp, bright
A friendly fox with a clever smile telling a joke to a group of laughing forest animals.

📝 In Action

Su discurso fue muy ingenioso y todos se rieron.

B1

His speech was very witty and everyone laughed.

Es un niño ingenioso que siempre tiene una respuesta para todo.

A2

He is a clever boy who always has an answer for everything.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ocurrente (witty/original)
  • agudo (sharp/acute)

Antonyms

  • soso (dull/boring)
  • torpe (clumsy/dim-witted)

Common Collocations

  • un comentario ingenioso – a witty comment
  • una mente ingeniosa – a clever mind

ingenious, resourceful

Also: inventive
A small mouse using a spoon as a lever to lift a heavy lid off a jar of seeds.

📝 In Action

Encontraron una solución ingeniosa para ahorrar agua.

B2

They found an ingenious solution to save water.

Es un sistema ingenioso de poleas.

C1

It is an ingenious system of pulleys.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • creativo (creative)
  • inventivo (inventive)

Antonyms

  • poco original (unoriginal)

Common Collocations

  • un plan ingenioso – an ingenious plan
  • un invento ingenioso – an ingenious invention

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ingenioso

Question 1 of 1

If someone solves a difficult puzzle in a very creative way, they are being...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el ingenio(wit/ingenuity) — Noun
ingeniosamente(ingeniously) — Adverb
el ingeniero(engineer) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'ingeniosus,' which means 'full of natural talent.' It comes from 'ingenium,' meaning 'innate quality' or 'nature.' It is the root for words like 'engineer' and 'engine.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: ingeniousFrench: ingénieuxPortuguese: engenhoso

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'inteligente' and 'ingenioso'?

While 'inteligente' is a general term for having a high capacity for learning, 'ingenioso' specifically refers to being quick-witted, funny, or very creative at solving specific problems.

Is 'ingenioso' ever used as a bad thing?

Not usually. It is almost always a compliment. However, if said with a sarcastic tone, it could imply someone is being 'too clever for their own good.'