teléfono inteligente
/telefono intelixente/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "smartphone" is teléfono inteligente in Spanish.
Teléfono inteligente refers to an electronic handheld device.
Meaning: electronic handheld device (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of "smart phone", where teléfono means "phone" and inteligente means "smart".
Which one should you use?
Teléfono inteligente is the full, formal term, whereas the anglicism smartphone is also commonly used in everyday speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word móvil is the standard way to refer to a mobile phone, regardless of whether it is a smartphone or not.
Did you know?
- The word teléfono is built from two Ancient Greek roots: tele- meaning 'far' and -fono meaning 'sound'.
- In many parts of Latin America, such as Mexico or Colombia, you are more likely to hear celular used for any mobile device than the formal teléfono inteligente.
- Using teléfono inteligente in a casual text message might make you sound like a textbook or a legal document rather than a person in a conversation.
Examples in context
- Le compré un teléfono inteligente a mi esposa.I bought a smartphone for my wife.This sentence shows how to use teléfono inteligente when buying a gift.Tatoeba #4158838 by Leono, translation #1324764 by CK
- Tom cambió su teléfono inteligente por un móvil de concha barato.Tom replaced his smartphone with a cheap flip phone.This sentence demonstrates replacing one device with another using teléfono inteligente.Tatoeba #10060836 by manufrutos, translation #10059979 by ddnktr
- ¡Me encanta tu nuevo teléfono inteligente!I love your new smartphone!
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar un buen celular?Where can I buy a good smartphone?
- ¿Dónde dejé mi móvil?Where did I leave my smartphone?
- ¡No puedo vivir sin mi cel!I can't live without my smartphone!
- Mi teléfono inteligente tiene la pantalla rota.My smartphone has a broken screen.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are looking at electronics in a store.
- ElenaMira este teléfono inteligente, es muy moderno.Look at this smartphone, it is very modern.
- AlejandroSí, pero parece muy caro.Yes, but it seems very expensive.
- ElenaTiene una cámara excelente, Alejandro.It has an excellent camera, Alejandro.
- AlejandroTienes razón, es el mejor teléfono inteligente aquí.You are right, it is the best smartphone here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smartphone” translations and entries teléfono inteligente, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inteligente, teléfono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
