Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ingenioso | /inxeˈnjoso/ |
| apañado | /apaˈɲado/ |
| con recursos | /kon ɾekuɾsos/ (from spelling rules) |
| que tiene recursos | /ke tjene ɾekuɾsos/ (from spelling rules) |
To describe someone who is capable, clever or able to use available resources in an efficient and ingenious way, you can use different terms depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.
Which one should you use?
While ingenioso is used to mean resourceful, it often carries a stronger connotation of being clever, witty or ingenious in one's ideas.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to describe someone as resourceful or handy in a colloquial way, especially someone good at fixing things or managing situations, use the informal term apañado. For a standard or more formal tone, ingenioso is the preferred choice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the word astuto/a can be used to convey the sense of being resourceful.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective ingenioso must agree in gender with the person being described. For example, use ingeniosa when describing a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/inxeˈnjoso/
Did you know?
- While ingenioso is used for 'resourceful', it is also the direct root of the Spanish word for 'engineering', ingeniería.
- Using astuto to mean 'resourceful' in Latin America can be a double-edged sword. It can imply that someone is not just clever, but actually 'cunning' or 'sly' in a deceptive way.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, you can use the reflexive verb apañarse to describe the act of 'making do' or successfully managing a difficult situation with limited means.
Examples in context
- ¡Eres muy ingenioso! Siempre encuentras solución a cualquier situación complicada.You are very resourceful! You always find solutions to any difficult situation.
- Es muy hábil resolviendo problemas técnicos.He is very resourceful when it comes to solving technical issues.
- Su enfoque creativo lo convierte en una persona muy ingeniosa.His creative approach makes him a very resourceful person.
- Mi amigo es muy apañado, siempre encuentra la manera de arreglar las cosas.My friend is very resourceful, he always finds a way to fix things.
- ¡Eres muy avispado! ¿Cómo lograste arreglar el coche de esa manera?You are very resourceful! How did you manage to fix the car like that?
- Mi hermana siempre está muy despierta, siempre sabe cómo solucionar los problemas.My sister is always very resourceful, she always knows how to solve problems.
- Es un hombre muy ingenioso.He is a very resourceful man.
- Necesitamos a alguien ingenioso para este trabajo.We need someone resourceful for this job.
Example conversation
María and Javier are discussing a colleague at work.
- María¿Cómo es nuestro nuevo compañero?How is our new colleague?
- JavierÉl es muy ingenioso con los problemas.He is very resourceful with problems.
- MaríaEso es bueno para el equipo.That is good for the team.
- JavierSí, siempre encuentra una solución.Yes, he always finds a solution.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “resourceful” translations and entries ingenioso, apañado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
