Inklingo

How to Say "smart" in Spanish

English → Spanish

inteligente

/in-te-li-HEN-te//in.te.liˈxen.te/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'inteligente' to describe someone or an animal that possesses a high level of intellect or cognitive ability.
A young child sitting at a table, focused and smiling while successfully placing the final, uniquely shaped piece into a colorful wooden puzzle, symbolizing intelligence and cleverness.

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-toh//ˈlisto/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'listo' when referring to someone who is clever, quick-witted, or has figured something out; it can also mean 'smartest' in a comparative sense.
A colorful illustration of a child successfully placing the final piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle, with a small, bright lightbulb illuminating above their head, symbolizing cleverness and intelligence.

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'.

elegante

eh-leh-GAHN-teh/e.leˈɣan.te/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'elegante' to describe someone or something that is stylish, well-dressed, or sophisticated in appearance.
A graceful white swan with its neck arched, gliding smoothly across a still, dark blue pond.

Examples

Ella lleva un vestido muy elegante para la fiesta.

She is wearing a very elegant dress for the party.

Ese restaurante es bastante elegante; necesitamos vestirnos bien.

That restaurant is quite classy; we need to dress well.

Su forma de hablar es muy elegante y educada.

His way of speaking is very sophisticated and polite.

One Form for Both Genders

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'elegante' ends in '-e', meaning it describes both masculine nouns (el traje elegante) and feminine nouns (la casa elegante) without changing its ending.

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-s' to the end: 'unos zapatos elegantes' (some elegant shoes).

Trying to Feminize

Mistake: “La mujer elegantA.”

Correction: La mujer elegante. Remember, adjectives that end in '-e' usually stay the same for both genders.

Inteligente vs. Listo

Learners often confuse 'inteligente' and 'listo' because both relate to intelligence. 'Inteligente' is a more direct translation for general intelligence, while 'listo' implies cleverness or being quick on the uptake, and is often used comparatively ('the smartest').

Related Translations

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