How to Say "clever" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “clever” is “inteligente” — use this word to describe someone or something that possesses general intelligence, high mental capacity, or good reasoning skills.
inteligente
in-te-li-HEN-tein.te.liˈxen.te
Examples
Mi hermana es muy inteligente; siempre saca buenas notas.
My sister is very intelligent; she always gets good grades.
Los delfines son animales increíblemente inteligentes.
Dolphins are incredibly intelligent animals.
Fue una decisión inteligente no salir con esta lluvia.
It was a smart decision not to go out in this rain.
One Form for Everyone
'Inteligente' is great because it doesn't change for men or women. You say 'un hombre inteligente' (a smart man) and 'una mujer inteligente' (a smart woman). It stays the same!
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one person or thing, just add an 's' at the end. For example, 'los estudiantes inteligentes' (the smart students).
Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'
Mistake: “Estoy inteligente hoy.”
Correction: Use 'ser' for intelligence, as it's a personality trait. Always say 'Soy inteligente' (I am intelligent), not 'Estoy inteligente'.
listo
lees-tohˈlisto
Examples
Mi hermana es la más lista de la clase.
My sister is the smartest in the class.
Es un perro muy listo, aprende los trucos rápido.
He's a very smart dog, he learns tricks quickly.
Tienes que ser muy listo para resolver este problema.
You have to be very clever to solve this problem.
Always Use with 'Ser'
To describe someone as smart or clever, you must use the verb 'ser'. Think of 'smart' as a personality trait or a characteristic, and 'ser' is the verb for characteristics. For example, 'Ella es muy lista' (She is very smart).
Using 'Estar' Instead of 'Ser'
Mistake: “Mi profesor está muy listo.”
Correction: Mi profesor es muy listo. Saying 'está listo' means your teacher is 'ready' for something. To say he is an intelligent person, you must use 'ser'.
hábil
Examples
Mi abuelo es muy hábil con las herramientas.
My grandfather is very handy with tools.
despierto
des-PYEHR-tohdesˈpjeɾto
Examples
Es un hombre de negocios muy despierto.
He is a very sharp businessman.
La niña es muy despierta y aprende rápido.
The girl is very clever and learns quickly.
Figurative Sense
In this meaning, 'despierto' describes a lasting quality, so it often pairs with 'ser' (to be permanent) to talk about someone's character: 'Es despierto' (He is clever).
ingenioso
een-hen-YOH-sohĩnxeˈnjoso
Examples
Su discurso fue muy ingenioso y todos se rieron.
His speech was very witty and everyone laughed.
Es un niño ingenioso que siempre tiene una respuesta para todo.
He is a clever boy who always has an answer for everything.
Gender Agreement
Remember that this word must match the person or thing you are describing. Use 'ingenioso' for masculine words and 'ingeniosa' for feminine words.
Ingenioso vs. Genial
Mistake: “Using 'ingenioso' to mean 'great' or 'awesome'.”
Correction: Use 'genial' for 'great'. Use 'ingenioso' specifically for someone who is 'clever' or 'funny' in a smart way.
astuto
ah-STOO-tohasˈtuto
Examples
El zorro es un animal muy astuto.
The fox is a very cunning animal.
Ella es una negociadora astuta; siempre consigue el mejor precio.
She is a shrewd negotiator; she always gets the best price.
Necesitas ser astuto para ganar este juego de estrategia.
You need to be clever to win this strategy game.
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'astuto' must match the person or thing it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): astuto (m. sing.), astuta (f. sing.), astutos (m. plur.), astutas (f. plur).
Confusing Cleverness
Mistake: “Using 'astuto' when you just mean generally 'smart' (like good grades).”
Correction: Use 'inteligente' or 'listo' for general smartness. 'Astuto' implies a specific, often strategic or crafty type of cleverness.
vivo
bee-boh'bibo
Examples
Es una niña muy viva, siempre está haciendo preguntas.
She's a very sharp/lively girl, she's always asking questions.
Tienes que ser muy vivo para tener éxito en este negocio.
You have to be very clever to succeed in this business.
Use with 'Ser'
When describing personality traits like being sharp or clever, you use the verb 'ser' (e.g., 'Ella es muy viva'). This is because you're talking about a more permanent characteristic.
avisado
ah-bee-SAH-dohaβiˈsaðo
Examples
Es un hombre avisado que no se deja engañar fácilmente.
He is a shrewd man who isn't easily fooled.
The 'Wise' Meaning
In this context, the word usually comes after the noun (e.g., 'un inversor avisado') to describe a permanent quality of being smart and careful.
brillante
bree-YAHN-taybɾiˈʎante
Examples
Tu hermano es un estudiante brillante; siempre saca las mejores notas.
Your brother is a brilliant student; he always gets the best grades.
La actriz tuvo una actuación brillante en la obra de teatro.
The actress gave a brilliant performance in the play.
El plan que propusiste es realmente brillante.
The plan you proposed is truly brilliant.
Describing Qualities
Use 'brillante' with the verb ser (like 'es' or 'son') because it describes a fundamental, lasting quality of a person or idea, not a temporary state.
Inteligente vs. Listo
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