sois intelligent
The English phrase "be smart" can be translated into French as sois intelligent.
You can use sois intelligent to tell someone to be smart. For a slightly different nuance, Faites preuve d'intelligence means to be smart or to show intelligence. If you want to warn someone to not be fooled or not to let themselves be had, use Ne te fais pas avoir.
Which one should you use?
While sois intelligent refers to intellectual capacity, the phrase sois malin is often used to mean "be clever" or "be street-smart" in a practical or cunning sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form sois intelligent uses the imperative of the verb être (to be) and is used when addressing one person informally. To address a female person informally, the adjective must change to the feminine form sois intelligente.
Did you know?
- To tell someone to 'use their head' in a way that is less formal than sois intelligent, you might say réveille-toi, which literally means 'wake up'.
- In French, telling someone sois intelligent can sometimes sound like a condescending insult, implying they are currently behaving like a fool.
- While sois intelligent refers to a person's intellect, using sois malin suggests a cunning or 'street-smart' nature often associated with the folklore character of the fox.
Examples in context
- Soyez intelligent(e) et organisez votre emploi du temps d'étude pour réussir vos examens.Be smart and organize your study timetable to succeed in your exams.
- Reste malin et ne tombe pas dans leurs fausses promesses.Stay smart and don't fall for their false promises.
- Pour réussir en affaires, il faut être intelligent(e) et saisir les opportunités.To be successful in business, you need to be smart and seize opportunities.
- Sois intelligent et réfléchis bien avant de répondre.Be smart and think carefully before answering.
- Sois intelligent, ne fais pas cette erreur de nouveau.Be smart, don't make this mistake again.
- Sois intelligent et choisis la meilleure option.Be smart and choose the best option.
Example conversation
Lucas is giving Chloé advice before a job interview.
- LucasBonne chance pour ton entretien, Chloé !Good luck with your interview, Chloé!
- ChloéMerci, je suis un peu stressée.Thanks, I'm a bit stressed.
- LucasReste calme et sois intelligente.Stay calm and be smart.
- ChloéTu as raison, je vais réussir.You're right, I will succeed.
