ingenioso
/inxeˈnjoso/
The English word witty is translated into Spanish as ingenioso. Wiktionary also lists conceptuoso.
Meaning: clever, amusingly ingenious (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ingenioso | /inxeˈnjoso/ |
| conceptuoso | /konθebtwoso/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /konsebtwoso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
This adjective describes someone or something that is clever or amusingly ingenious.
Which one should you use?
While ingenioso refers to general wit or cleverness, conceptuoso is a more literary term used to describe a style of writing or speech that is full of complex, clever ideas or 'conceits'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of ingenioso is ingeniosa. The masculine plural form of ingenioso is ingeniosos. The feminine plural form of ingenioso is ingeniosas.
How do you pronounce it?
/inxeˈnjoso/
Did you know?
- While ingenioso means witty, the noun ingenio can refer to a sugar mill in certain Latin American contexts.
- Spanish has a specific term for the 'wit' of a person, salero, which describes a type of witty charm or grace that is particularly associated with the culture of Andalusia.
- The Spanish word ingenioso shares its DNA with the English word 'engine'. Both stem from the same Latin root describing a device or a clever knack for solving problems.
Examples in context
- Su humor es muy ingenioso, típicamente francés.His humor is very witty, typically French.This example shows how to describe someone's humor using ingenioso.Tatoeba #1711431 by marcelostockle, translation #3927302 by Delian
- Los aforismos ingeniosos nos llaman la atención.Witty aphorisms attract our attention.This example uses ingenioso to describe aphorisms.Tatoeba #10532060 by Seael, translation #10532058 by AlanF_US
- Eres ingenioso.You're witty.This example uses ingenioso to describe a person directly.Tatoeba #4484482 by cueyayotl, translation #2203586 by CK
- ¡Eres muy gracioso!You are very witty!
- ¡Qué chistoso eres!How witty you are!
- Siempre tienes respuestas ocurrentesYou always have witty answers
- Me encanta tu forma ingeniosa de responderI love your witty way of responding
- Admiro tu mente aguda y tu capacidad de ser ingenioso/aI admire your sharp mind and your ability to be witty
- Es un graciosón, siempre tiene ocurrenciasHe's a really witty guy, he always has funny ideas
- Tiene un sentido del humor agudoHe/she has a sharp wit
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing a comedian's performance.
- AlejandroEse comediante es muy ingenioso.That comedian is very witty.
- LucíaSí, sus chistes son muy divertidos.Yes, his jokes are very funny.
- AlejandroMe encanta su estilo.I love his style.
- LucíaA mí también.Me too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witty” translations and entries ingenioso, conceptuoso, 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 ingenioso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
