What is the difference, if there is one?

[Jessica]

What is the difference between...

...smart,

...intelligent,

...clever,

...wise,

...and shrewd?


Thanks in advance.

[CrOtALiTo]

I think that the difference between the word Smart and Intelligent the meaning is the same, because smart meaning Listo, intelligent meaning Inteligente, but really the both word has the reason of understanding, if you want to say smart to someone, well then you are saying intelligent or smart to a person who has a kind of special knowledge.


I don't know, If I'm in the accurate but if my opinion would work for you then, please you take my own view point.

[Jessica]

yeah intelligent and smart mean the same. I think intelligent, though, sounds better than "smart".

[Jessica]

someone else answer to this thread por favor...
gracias...

[Rusty]

These words are similar and some can be synonyms, but each has a unique meaning. Consult a good dictionary to determine which best suits your need. Below are links to each word in Dictionary.com. This site pulls the meanings from several dictionaries and presents them all on one page.

smart (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/smart)
intelligent (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intelligent)
clever (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clever)
wise (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wise)
shrewd (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shrewd)

[Tomisimo]

Here's my take off the cuff:

Of the five words, smart and intelligent are the closest in meaning, the later normally being used in higher registers than the former. Wisdom implies intelligence with extra experience. A clever person is not only smart, they also have a certain flair when expressing that intelligence. A shrewd person is smart in a defensive manner.

Intelligent/smart: You know that driving a car at 150 mph is dangerous.
Wise: You decide not to drive a car at 150 based on the above fact.
Clever: You decide to travel by high-speed train to make the needed journey instead of risking a high-speed car trip.
Shrewd: You research which train car has fewer passengers, and ask for a ticket placing you there so you have a better chance of getting some sleep during the trip.

[CrOtALiTo]

Then exist five kind for describe to a person, (Intelligent, smart, wise, clever, shrewd)

Intelligent, Inteligente.
Smart, Listo.
Wise, Sabio.
Clever, Mañoso.
Shrewd, Astuto.

Then I have a questions for you, How you will describe yourself? Using the five points said before.

[Tomisimo]

Then exist five kind for describe to a person, (Intelligent, smart, wise, clever, shrewd)

Intelligent, Inteligente.
Smart, Listo.
Wise, Sabio.
Clever, Mañoso.
Shrewd, Astuto.

Then I have a questions for you, How you will describe yourself? Using the five points said before.
Good translations Crotalito. The only pair I would be hesitant with is clever-mañoso. Mañoso implies some negative connotations that clever doesn't have.

[Jessica]

thanks :D

[chileno]

Good translations Crotalito. The only pair I would be hesitant with is clever-mañoso. Mañoso implies some negative connotations that clever doesn't have.

I think Shrewd would be mañoso

and clever = astuto.

No?

[Tomisimo]

I think Shrewd would be mañoso

and clever = astuto.

No?
There is a lot of overlap between the words. Mañoso isn't really a good choice for any of them, since it implies more cunning and guile.

[CrOtALiTo]

Than you David.

[chileno]

There is a lot of overlap between the words. Mañoso isn't really a good choice for any of them, since it implies more cunning and guile.


You're right. It is exactly cunning.

But still it aims at sagacious etc...

I would say, semantics? ;-)