Meaning
sly, cunning, shrewd
- sly, cunning, crafty
- shrewd, smart
In a sentence
Marco è furbo e trova sempre scorciatoie.
Marco is crafty and always finds shortcuts.
Sei stato furbo a comprare i biglietti prima?
Were you smart to buy the tickets early?
Non fare il furbo con me, dai.
Don't try to be sly with me, come on.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| furbo | masculine · singular |
| furba | feminine · singular |
| furbi | masculine · plural |
| furbe | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Often implies bending rules or self-interest; for purely positive “smart/clever,” prefer intelligente or sveglio depending on context.
- Common in speech and informal writing. In formal contexts, astuto sounds more neutral and less morally loaded.
- Agree it like any adjective: furbo, furba, furbi, furbe. Don’t confuse it with the adverb furbamente.