Practical/práctico

[poli]

Practical/ práctico are false cognates we need to know about, because
dictionaries that I've consulted don't help much.
Practical in English very often means viable with common sense, and I am not sure if there is a direct translation for it in Spanish. Is there a practical decision maker out there who can help me find a Spanish equivalent?

[sosia]

depending on the context...
you can use "útil" for a tool
"viable" or "realizable" for an idea
"sensata" for a person
saludos

[poli]

Sosia
Sensata was the word I was looking for. Thanks.
It sounds Japanese
Poli

[Tomisimo]

Sensata, I would usually translate as sensible, wise.

I think in some cases you can use práctico-practical.

Ella es una persona muy práctica.
She is a very practical person.

Oh, and "Sensei (先生, Sensei?) is a Japanese title used to refer to or address teachers, professionals such as lawyers and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other authority figures." ^wiki, although all those people may not be sensatos.

[poli]

I still don't feel comfortable with the use of práctico in Spanish.
For example: Changing incandescent light bulbs for flourescent bulbs
is a practical idea. I suspect you cannot use idea práctico,can you?
I suppose you can use sensible,but I have questions about that word too.
Dictionary definitions of that word seem to contradict.
Razonable o viable (as Sosia suggested) is what I would choose but I don't think they really mean practical. I am curious to see if práctico o sensible can be used.

[Tomisimo]

Sensible (Spanish) means sensitive, not sensible (English).

[sosia]

Cambiar bombillas incandescentes por halógenas es una idea...
muy sensata
muy rentable
muy económica
muy inteligente
muy práctica
muy útil
saludos

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by poli

I suspect you cannot use idea práctico,can you?

Yes, you can say una idea práctica. I'm not sure if it's got the same meaning as a practical idea, but think that práctico means the same as pragmático, although this last word is more formal and usually appears with a different kind of words from those that práctico usually appears with (what a fuss I did here, is it clear? what a verse!).

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by poli

Practical/ práctico are false cognates we need to know about, because
dictionaries that I've consulted don't help much.
Practical in English very often means viable with common sense, and I am not sure if there is a direct translation for it in Spanish. Is there a practical decision maker out there who can help me find a Spanish equivalent?

I see that práctico is a good translation for the meaning you explain of practical.
I'm sorry to insist that práctico and pragmático are much the same. I hope this will clarify their meanings.

[Alfonso]

I see what you mean, Gatito. I can only say that I'm not very fond of grammar rules, especially if these are far from language usage.
It's usage itself what writes the grammar rules.
So, I wouldn't think if this is correct or not, since for knowing this you only have to consult the proper book. Instead, I would try to analyse what's the use you hear the most in your area, and what the use you consider formal, colloquial and vulgar.

I hope this will somehow help you!