When we talk about something being intelectual, we're focusing on its connection to deep thought and understanding. It's not just about smarts, but about things that make you think critically or challenge your mind. For example, a discussion can be intelectual if it explores complex ideas, or a book might be described as intelectual if it requires a lot of mental effort to grasp its concepts. This word often implies a more profound level of engagement than simply being 'smart' or 'clever'. It's about what stimulates the intellect itself.
intelectual en 30 secondes
- intellectual
- mind
- thought
How Formal Is It?
"El profesor es un erudito en la literatura clásica. (The professor is a scholar in classical literature.)"
"Me gusta tener conversaciones intelectuales sobre temas variados. (I like to have intellectual conversations about various topics.)"
"Mi amigo es muy listo para resolver problemas complejos. (My friend is very clever at solving complex problems.)"
"¡Eres muy inteligente por saber todas las respuestas! (You are very smart for knowing all the answers!)"
"Mi hermana es una cerebrito, siempre saca las mejores notas. (My sister is a brainiac, she always gets the best grades.)"
Niveau de difficulté
short
short
short
short
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Adjectives like "intelectual" typically follow the noun they modify in Spanish.
Es una persona intelectual. (She is an intellectual person.)
"Intelectual" is an adjective that describes a quality of a person or thing, so it often pairs with the verb "ser" (to be) for inherent characteristics.
Ella es muy intelectual. (She is very intellectual.)
Like most Spanish adjectives, "intelectual" must agree in number with the noun it modifies. However, since it ends in -l, it only changes for plural.
Los libros son intelectuales. (The books are intellectual.)
It can be used to describe both people and concepts.
Tenemos una conversación intelectual. (We are having an intellectual conversation.)
It can function as a noun, meaning 'an intellectual person' when used with a definite article.
Es un intelectual. (He is an intellectual.)
Comment l'utiliser
When talking about something that is related to the intellect or engages the intellect, you can use intelectual. It's often used in contexts like discussions, books, or people.
For example:
- "Es un libro muy intelectual." (It's a very intellectual book.)
- "Me gustan las conversaciones intelectuales." (I like intellectual conversations.)
- "Ella es una persona muy intelectual." (She is a very intellectual person.)
A common mistake is confusing intelectual with words like "inteligente" (intelligent) or "erudito" (erudite).
- Intelectual describes something related to the intellect or that stimulates the intellect.
- Inteligente describes someone who has a high capacity for learning, understanding, and reasoning.
- Erudito describes someone who has extensive knowledge, often acquired through study.
While an intelectual person might also be inteligente and erudito, the words aren't interchangeable. Focus on the core meaning of engaging the intellect when using intelectual.
Teste-toi 24 questions
Ella tiene una conversación muy ___.
The sentence implies a deep or engaging conversation.
Me gusta leer libros que son ___.
The word 'intelectuales' suggests books that engage the mind.
El profesor dio una charla muy ___ sobre filosofía.
A talk about philosophy would likely be intellectual.
Busco pasatiempos que sean ___ y desafiantes.
The word 'desafiantes' (challenging) pairs well with 'intelectuales'.
Sus ideas siempre son muy ___.
If someone's ideas are often deep or thought-provoking, they are 'intelectuales'.
Aprender un nuevo idioma es una actividad muy ___.
Learning a new language engages the mind, making it an intellectual activity.
La obra de este filósofo es tan compleja que solo los más ___ pueden entenderla a fondo.
The context implies a high level of mental understanding is required, making 'intelectuales' (intellectuals) the appropriate choice.
Su capacidad de análisis y su agudeza mental son prueba de su gran desarrollo ___.
The sentence speaks of analytical ability and mental sharpness, directly related to intellectual development.
El debate se centró en cuestiones ___ que requerían un pensamiento crítico y profundo.
The phrase 'critical and deep thinking' clearly indicates that the debate involved intellectual matters.
Considero que la lectura de filosofía es un ejercicio ___ fundamental para la mente.
Reading philosophy is an activity that engages the mind and requires thought, making it an 'intelectual' exercise.
Muchos líderes del movimiento fueron figuras prominentes en el ámbito ___.
The term 'prominent figures' in a 'movement' often refers to those who contribute ideas and thought, hence 'intelectual'.
El impacto de la inteligencia artificial en el desarrollo ___ de la humanidad es innegable.
Artificial intelligence directly affects the intellectual development of humanity by influencing knowledge and thought processes.
Focus on the nuance of 'profundidad intelectual'.
Listen for how 'estímulo intelectual' is described.
Note the phrase 'nivel intelectual'.
Read this aloud:
La búsqueda intelectual es un viaje sin fin que siempre nos reta a crecer.
Focus: intelectual, reto, crecer
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Considero que una vida sin curiosidad intelectual es una vida incompleta.
Focus: curiosidad, incompleta
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
El desafío intelectual de este problema me mantuvo ocupado durante horas.
Focus: desafío, problema, ocupado
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes someone's remarkable intellectual ability to solve complex problems. 'Su capacidad intelectual' forms the subject, followed by the infinitive phrase 'para resolver problemas complejos' indicating the purpose, and finally 'es notable' as the predicate.
The sentence conveys that a debate resulted in a deep intellectual exchange among experts. 'El debate' is the subject, 'generó' is the verb, and 'un intercambio intelectual profundo' is the direct object, followed by the prepositional phrase 'entre los expertos'.
This sentence indicates that the literary work offers an intellectual challenge to the reader. 'La obra literaria' is the subject, 'presenta' is the verb, and 'un desafío intelectual' is the direct object, followed by 'para el lector' which specifies for whom the challenge is.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 'intelectual' to describe anything connected to the mind, intelligence, or deep thinking.
- intellectual
- mind
- thought
Exemple
Busco una conversación intelectual y estimulante.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur academic
a fin de
B1In order to; with the aim of.
a mi parecer
B1In my opinion; to my mind.
a partir de
B1Starting from; based on; as of.
abordar
B2To address or tackle a topic, problem, or situation. In a literal sense, it can also mean to board a ship or approach someone to speak.
abstracción
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstractamente
B1In an abstract manner; in theory rather than in practice.
abstracto
B1Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
abstracto/a
B2Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
abstraer
B1To extract or remove (something); to form a general idea or quality.
académicamente
B2In an academic manner; in terms of academic performance or study.