perspicaz
/peʁs.piˈka(j)s/
The English word 'insightful' is translated into Portuguese as perspicaz.
perspicaz is used to describe someone possessing insight. While it can describe a person's keenness of perception or intellect, it is also often used to describe the quality of an idea or observation, such as an 'insightful observation'.
Meaning: possessing insight (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective perspicaz is invariable for gender, so it remains the same whether you are describing a man or a woman. To make perspicaz plural, add -es to the end to get perspicazes.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /peʁs.piˈka(j)s/.
Did you know?
- The root of perspicaz comes from the Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-, which means 'to observe'. This same root is a distant relative of the English word 'spectacles'.
- While 'perspicaz' is an elegant way to praise someone, using it in a very casual setting might sound slightly academic or overly formal.
- The word perspicaz is a learned borrowing from the Latin perspicax, meaning it was intentionally reintroduced into the language by scholars rather than evolving naturally over time.
Examples in context
- Franklin era extremamente conhecedor de botânica, geologia e astronomia, e desenvolveu várias hipóteses perspicazes sobre os padrões meteorológicos mundiais, as alterações climáticas, a formação de tornados e a relação entre os ventos e a rotação da Terra.Franklin was extremely well-versed in botany, geology, and astronomy, and he developed several insightful hypotheses regarding world weather patterns, climate change, tornado formation, and the relationship between winds and the Earth's rotation.This sentence shows how to use perspicaz to describe hypotheses.Tatoeba #12416010 by Cangarejo, translation #12416009 by Cangarejo
- A palestra desse especialista foi incrivelmente perspicaz, fornecendo novas maneiras de abordar o problema.The expert's lecture was incredibly insightful, providing new ways to approach the problem.
- A pesquisa realizada por esse renomado cientista foi altamente esclarecedora e contribuiu para uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno.The research conducted by this renowned scientist was highly insightful and contributed to a better understanding of the phenomenon.
- A reflexão do filósofo nesse artigo é verdadeiramente profunda e oferece novas perspectivas sobre a natureza humana.The philosopher's reflection in this article is truly insightful and offers new perspectives on human nature.
- Eu adorei a sacada desse comediante no palco. Foi realmente brilhante!I loved that comedian's insight on stage. It was truly brilliant!
- O seu amigo é muito esperto. Sempre tem algo interessante e perspicaz a dizer.Your friend is really insightful. He always has something interesting and thought-provoking to say.
- Ela fez um comentário muito perspicaz sobre o livro.She made a very insightful comment about the book.
- O professor é um homem perspicaz e atento.The professor is an insightful and attentive man.
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are discussing a recent documentary.
- LucasVocê assistiu ao documentário ontem?Did you watch the documentary yesterday?
- CamilaSim, achei o diretor muito perspicaz.Yes, I thought the director was very insightful.
- LucasEu concordo, a visão dele é única.I agree, his vision is unique.
- CamilaCom certeza, foi uma experiência fascinante.Definitely, it was a fascinating experience.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “insightful” translations and entries perspicaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perspicaz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
