Usage Note
Sveglio literally means 'awake' (from svegliarsi, to wake up) but its most common meaning is 'clever, sharp, quick-witted.' È un bambino molto sveglio means 'he's a very bright child.' Note that sveglio can therefore be ambiguous — context usually clarifies whether physical wakefulness or mental sharpness is meant. The antonym addormentato ('sleepy') can similarly mean 'slow' or 'dopey' figuratively.
Examples
"È una ragazza sveglia e piena di idee."
Natural Translation
She's a sharp girl full of ideas.
Related Words
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