Sign in
ingenuity and Spanish ingenuidad
In English
ingenuity
cleverness / inventiveness
In Spanish
ingenuidad
inocencia
Spanish "ingenuidad" means: naivety
Why they get mixed up Spanish "ingenuidad" is a lack of malice or excessive innocence. English "ingenuity" is creativity and the ability to solve problems in innovative ways. Same origin, opposite meanings in practice.
If you want to say...
- ingenuityingenio
- naivetyingenuidad
- creativitycreatividad
Examples
She solved it with great ingenuity.
Lo resolvió con mucho ingenio.
Human ingenuity is amazing.
El ingenio humano es asombroso.
The engineers showed great ingenuity in solving the problem.
Los ingenieros mostraron gran ingenio para resolver el problema.
It takes ingenuity to build a house from recycled materials.
Hace falta inventiva para construir una casa con materiales reciclados.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Con mucha ingenuidad resolvió el problema técnico.
Correct: Con mucho ingenio resolvió el problema técnico.
Ingenuidad means naivety. For ingenuity, use ingenio or inventiva.
Incorrect: Admiro la ingenuidad de los inventores.
Correct: Admiro el ingenio de los inventores.
Use ingenio or inventiva for ingenuity.
Phrases you will hear
- human ingenuityel ingenio humano
- with great ingenuitycon gran ingenio
- show ingenuitymostrar ingenio
- ingenuity and creativityingenio y creatividad
- naivetyingenuidad
- gullibilitycredulidad
In a conversation
- A:
It took ingenuity to solve the problem.
Hizo falta ingenio para resolver el problema.
- B:
Yes, they showed great creativity.
Sí, mostraron gran creatividad.
- A:
They weren't naive.
No fueron ingenuos.
- B:
No. Naivety would have failed.
No. La ingenuidad habría fracasado.
Test yourself
"Great ingenuity" is a lot of...
To remember it
Ingenuity = cleverness/inventiveness. Naivety/innocence (Spanish "ingenuidad") = naivety.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "ingenuidad" mean?
Spanish "ingenuidad" means "naivety". It looks like the English "ingenuity", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "ingenuity" means "cleverness / inventiveness".
Does English "ingenuity" mean the same as Spanish "ingenuidad"?
Spanish "ingenuidad" is a lack of malice or excessive innocence. English "ingenuity" is creativity and the ability to solve problems in innovative ways. Same origin, opposite meanings in practice.