Meaning
brain
- intellect, mind
- mastermind
In a sentence
Dopo otto ore, il mio cervello era stanco.
After eight hours, my brain was tired.
Hai acceso il cervello prima di parlare?
Did you use your brain before speaking?
Lui è considerato il cervello di tutta l'operazione.
He is considered the mastermind behind the whole operation.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| cervello | masculine · singular |
| cervelli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use cervello for the physical brain and for intelligence. For “mind” in a broader sense, Italian often prefers mente.
- In idioms, Italian often uses cervello where English uses “head”: Mi gira il cervello is not a natural equivalent of “my head is spinning.”
- Avere cervello means “to have sense/brains,” not just “to possess a brain.” It is common in everyday speech.