inteligentes
“inteligentes” means “smart” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
smart, intelligent
Also: clever, bright
📝 In Action
Mis hermanas son muy inteligentes y estudian medicina.
A1My sisters are very smart and study medicine.
Los delfines son animales acuáticos increíblemente inteligentes.
A2Dolphins are incredibly intelligent aquatic animals.
Necesitamos soluciones inteligentes para los problemas del tráfico.
B1We need smart solutions for the traffic problems.
smart, automated
Also: high-tech
📝 In Action
Hoy en día, casi todos usamos teléfonos inteligentes para comunicarnos.
B1Nowadays, almost all of us use smart phones to communicate.
La ciudad está invirtiendo en sistemas de transporte inteligentes.
B2The city is investing in smart transportation systems.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inteligentes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'inteligentes'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin *intelligens*, which was the present tense form of the verb *intelligere*, meaning 'to understand' or 'to perceive'.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (as 'entendiente' before evolving into 'inteligente')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'inteligentes' not change to 'inteligentos' for masculine groups?
Adjectives in Spanish that end in the vowel 'e' (like 'verde,' 'grande,' and 'inteligente') are naturally gender-neutral in the singular. When they become plural, they simply add '-s' to form 'inteligentes,' which is used for both masculine and feminine groups.
Is 'listos' a good synonym for 'inteligentes'?
Yes, 'listos' (plural of 'listo') is a great synonym, but it can also mean 'ready.' When talking about mental quickness, 'listos' often implies cleverness or street smarts, while 'inteligentes' implies a deeper, general capacity for learning.

