Inklingo

How to Say "self-evident" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forself-evidentis evidenteuse 'evidente' when the truth or fact is readily apparent and requires no further proof or explanation, often implying it's visually or logically clear..

English → Spanish

evidente

eh-vee-DEHN-teh/eβiˈðente/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'evidente' when the truth or fact is readily apparent and requires no further proof or explanation, often implying it's visually or logically clear.
A single, bright red apple resting on a pristine white surface, sharply illuminated by a focused beam of light.

Examples

El error fue evidente, no sé cómo no lo vimos antes.

The mistake was evident, I don't know how we didn't see it before.

Es evidente que necesitas descansar. Te ves muy cansado.

It's obvious that you need to rest. You look very tired.

Las pruebas evidentes confirmaron su inocencia.

The clear evidence confirmed his innocence.

Gender Consistency

Since 'evidente' ends in -e, it is one of those helpful adjectives that stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el error evidente' and 'la verdad evidente').

Making it Plural

To talk about more than one thing, simply add an -s: 'evidente' becomes 'evidentes' (e.g., 'las razones evidentes').

Common Structure

You will frequently see this word used in the impersonal form 'Es evidente que...' (It is obvious that...), which is a great way to start sentences when stating a clear fact.

Adjective vs. Adverb

Mistake:Using 'evidente' instead of 'evidentemente' when modifying a verb (e.g., *'Ella habló evidente'*).

Correction: Use the adverb form 'evidentemente' when you mean 'obviously' or 'clearly' (e.g., 'Ella habló evidentemente molesta').

obvio

OH-byoh/ˈoβjo/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'obvio' when something is so clear or common-sensical that it goes without saying or needs no justification.
A high quality storybook illustration featuring a gigantic, bright red arrow pointing straight upward against a plain light blue background, symbolizing something obvious and unmistakable.

Examples

Era obvio que no estaban prestando atención en la clase.

It was obvious that they weren't paying attention in class.

La respuesta es obvia: tienes que estudiar más.

The answer is obvious: you have to study more.

Sus intenciones eran obvias para todos.

His intentions were clear to everyone.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'obvio' is an adjective, make sure its ending matches the thing it describes. Use 'obvio' (masculine singular), 'obvia' (feminine singular), 'obvios' (masculine plural), or 'obvias' (feminine plural).

The 'Es obvio que' Rule

When you use the common phrase 'Es obvio que...' (It is obvious that...), the verb that follows usually stays in the normal, indicative form because you are stating a fact. For example: 'Es obvio que estás cansado' (It is obvious that you are tired).

Forgetting Agreement

Mistake:La verdad es obvio. (Incorrect)

Correction: La verdad es obvia. (Correct). Since 'verdad' (truth) is feminine, the adjective must be 'obvia'.

Evidente vs. Obvio

Learners often confuse 'evidente' and 'obvio' because both mean 'obvious' or 'clear.' The key difference lies in nuance: 'evidente' leans towards something demonstrably true or visible, while 'obvio' emphasizes something that requires no explanation due to its common sense nature.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.