Spanish word

sabelotodo

Pronunciation

IPA/saβeloˈtoðo/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)know-it-all

Example

No soporto a los sabelotodos que no escuchan.

I can't stand know-it-alls who don't listen.

Illustration for sabelotodo (know-it-all)

More examples

No seas un sabelotodo en clase.

Don't be a know-it-all in class.

Core concept

A conversational interrupter who likes to show off knowledge.

Common phrases

  • el sabelotodo de turno

    the know-it-all of the moment

  • hacer el sabelotodo

    act like a know-it-all

Similar words

listillo: Acts overly clever to attract attention and seem sharper than others.
sabiondo: Brags about facts and eagerly lectures others to display knowledge.
pedante: Flaunts academic learning and speaks pompously to appear superior.
enterado: Claims to be well informed about matters or events and acts knowledgeable.

Definition in Spanish

Persona que presume conocerlo todo y suele corregir o interrumpir a los demás.

Word origin

The word comes from the phrase saberlo todo 'to know everything', composed of saber 'to know', lo 'it', and todo 'all', and later reanalyzed as a single noun for a boastful, correction-seeking person.

Usage tips

  • It appears mainly in informal speech and can sound insulting when used directly, so speakers often soften it with qualifiers like un or ese when speaking about someone.

Opposites

  • persona modestamodest personnoun

Word lists with this word