sveglio
sharp, bright, quick-witted
Advanced Adjective
🔊
Pronunciation
/ˈzveʎʎo/
💡
Cultural Note
'Sveglio' literally means 'awake' but is widely used to mean 'sharp' or 'quick-witted.' It is a high compliment in Italian, implying someone is alert, perceptive, and able to read situations quickly. It overlaps with 'furbo' but lacks the negative connotations — 'sveglio' is purely positive. Italian parents love hearing their child called 'sveglio/a.'
📝 Example Sentences
Tua figlia è molto sveglia per la sua età.
Your daughter is very bright for her age.
Devi essere sveglio se vuoi fare affari in Italia.
You need to be sharp if you want to do business in Italy.
È un ragazzo sveglio, capisce tutto al volo.
He's a quick-witted boy, he understands everything instantly.
📊 Adjective Forms
| Gender | Form |
|---|---|
| feminine_plural | sveglie |
| masculine_plural | svegli |
| feminine_singular | sveglia |
| masculine_singular | sveglio |