¿eres inteligente?
The English phrase "are you smart?" is translated into Spanish as ¿eres inteligente?
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone has a high level of intelligence.
Which one should you use?
While inteligente refers to general intelligence, the adjective listo/a is often used to mean "clever" or "quick-witted" in a more practical or street-smart sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ¿eres inteligente? uses the informal "tú" conjugation. To ask if a group of people is smart, use the plural form ¿son ustedes inteligentes?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes confuse the question form ¿eres…? (are you…?) with the statement soy… (I am…), so ensure you use the second-person conjugation for a question.
Did you know?
- The word eres is a linguistic fossil from Latin. It actually comes from the future tense form 'eris', which eventually replaced the original Latin present tense 'es' in Spanish.
- If you ask someone ¿eres listo? in Spain, you might actually be calling them 'ready' instead of 'smart'. While 'listo' can mean clever, its primary meaning is 'prepared' or 'ready'.
- Spanish has a specific term espabilado to describe a type of 'smart' that refers to being alert and awake to the ways of the world.
Examples in context
- Dime, ¿eres inteligente?Tell me, are you smart?
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a difficult puzzle.
- LucíaEste acertijo es muy difícil, ¿eres inteligente?This riddle is very difficult, are you smart?
- JavierSí, creo que puedo resolverlo.Yes, I think I can solve it.
- LucíaEntonces, busca la respuesta ahora.Then, look for the answer now.
- JavierDame un minuto, Javier lo hará.Give me a minute, Javier will do it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eres, inteligente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
