Meaning
ingenuity, intellect, wit
- ingenuity, wit
- intellect, brilliant mind
In a sentence
Hai davvero molto ingegno per risolvere questi problemi.
You really have a lot of brains for solving these problems.
Con il suo ingegno, ha trovato una soluzione semplice.
With his ingenuity, he found a simple solution.
Non basta l'ingegno, serve anche un po' di pazienza.
Brains alone aren't enough; you also need a bit of patience.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| ingegno | masculine · singular |
| ingegni | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use ingegno for intellectual brilliance or inventive ability; intelligenza is broader and more neutral, while talento often refers to artistic or practical skill.
- Often appears in elevated or literary contexts. In everyday speech, Italians more often say intelligenza, testa, genialità, or talento depending on context.
- Common with verbs like avere, mostrare, and dimostrare: avere ingegno, mostrare ingegno. The plural ingegni is possible but less common and often formal.