Spanish word

destreza

Pronunciation

IPA/desˈtɾeθa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounskill

Example

Ella mostró gran destreza en la cocina.

She showed great skill in the kitchen.

Illustration for destreza (skill)

More examples

Resolvió el problema con destreza.

He solved the problem skillfully.

Core concept

Quick, practiced control of hands or movements in a craft or sport.

Common phrases

  • gran destreza

    considerable skill

  • con destreza

    skillfully

Similar words

habilidad: A learned skill or talent for carrying out a particular task well.
capacidad: Ability in body or mind that enables someone to do a given task.
técnica: Technique or systematic way of doing a task to improve efficiency.

Definition in Spanish

Aptitud o habilidad adquirida mediante la práctica para ejecutar acciones con rapidez y eficacia.

Word origin

Formed from Latin dexteritas (dexter 'skillful' + -itas), originally meaning dexterity and carried into Spanish to denote an ability honed by repetition and practice.

Usage tips

  • Not always interchangeable with habilidad or competencia in formal or abstract contexts, where those words sound more natural.

Other meanings

  • dexteritynoun
  • proficiencynoun

Opposites

  • torpezaawkwardnessnoun

Word lists with this word