savvy
gb/sˈævi/ us/sˈævi/
B2
English
~ 9300
talpraesett, hozzáértő, gyakorlati érzék, hozzáértés, vág, megért
B2
INFORMAL
1
talpraesett
B2
hozzáértő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is savvy about [something]
She’s a very savvy negotiator and always gets a good deal.
Nagyon talpraesett tárgyaló, és mindig jó üzletet köt.
You need to be more financially savvy if you want to start your own business.
Pénzügyileg tájékozottabbnak kell lenned, ha saját vállalkozást akarsz indítani.
He’s pretty savvy about social media and knows how to grow an audience.
Only the most tech-savvy users were able to fix the problem themselves.
Learner examples
My aunt is very savvy about money.
A nagynéném nagyon ért a pénzügyekhez.
You have to be savvy to run a small business.
Talpraesettnek kell lenned, ha kisvállalkozást akarsz vezetni.
He is not tech-savvy, so I help him with his phone.
Savvy travelers book flights months in advance.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "savvy" means only "intelligent". In English, it usually means a mix of intelligence and real-world experience, especially in areas like money, business, politics, or technology. Learners also sometimes put it before a noun incorrectly as a noun, e.g. *"He has a savvy about money"*. In that pattern, use the noun form: "He has (good) money savvy" or more naturally "He is savvy about money."
Meaning
practically knowledgeable and shrewd
Collocations
tech-savvy
|media-savvy
|politically savvy
|socially savvy
|savvy consumer
|savvy investor
Synonyms
shrewd (Stresses sharp, sometimes hard-headed judgment, especially in business or negotiations; slightly more formal.)
|
smart (Very general word for intelligent; does not always suggest practical or real-world knowledge the way "savvy" does.)
|
astute (More formal and often used in written English for someone who understands situations or people very well.)
Antonyms
naive (Suggests someone lacks experience and can be too trusting, the opposite of being streetwise or savvy.)
|
clueless (Informal; suggests having almost no understanding of what is going on.)
Themes
business
|technology
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Knowing a lot and making smart choices in real-life situations, especially about business, money, or modern things like technology.
Having practical knowledge, good judgment, and awareness, especially in business, technology, or everyday life.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
hozzáértés
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [savvy] about [something]
Her business savvy helped the company survive the crisis.
Az üzleti érzéke segített a cégnek túlélni a válságot.
You need some street savvy if you’re going to live in that neighborhood.
Szükséged lesz némi utcai rutinra, ha azon a környéken akarsz élni.
His political savvy made him a valuable adviser during the campaign.
Good digital savvy is now essential for most office jobs.
Learner examples
She has a lot of business savvy.
Nagy üzleti érzéke van.
Street savvy is important in a big city.
Nagyvárosban fontos az utcai rutin.
His tech savvy helped him get a good job.
They are looking for someone with strong marketing savvy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *"a savvy"* when using the noun, e.g. *"He has a savvy in business"*. Normally, "savvy" as a noun is uncountable: "He has business savvy." Also, do not confuse noun and adjective patterns: say "financial savvy" (noun) or "financially savvy" (adjective), not *"financially savvy knowledge"* when you mean the noun.
Meaning
practical know-how and judgment
Collocations
business savvy
|financial savvy
|political savvy
|tech savvy
|street savvy
Synonyms
know-how (Focuses more on the ability to do something in practice; often used with jobs and skills.)
|
smarts (Informal; suggests intelligence and quick thinking, but not always specific to a field like business or tech.)
Antonyms
inexperience (Lack of practice or time spent doing something, the opposite of the practical experience in "savvy".)
|
ignorance (Lack of knowledge about a subject; contrasts with being well-informed and capable.)
Themes
business
|money
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Practical knowledge and experience that help you act in a smart way in real life, especially in one area like business or technology.
Practical understanding, experience, and good judgment about how things really work in a particular area.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] savvies [something]
I don’t quite savvy what he’s trying to say.
Nem igazán vágom, mit akar mondani.
You report to me every Friday, savvy?
Minden pénteken nekem jelentesz, világos?
Make sure everyone in the team savvies the new rules before we start.
She didn’t really savvy the risks when she signed the contract.
Learner examples
I don’t savvy your meaning.
Nem vágom, mire gondolsz.
Listen carefully so you savvy the instructions.
Figyelj jól, hogy megértsd az utasításokat.
You sign here, savvy?
He didn’t savvy the joke.
Common mistake:
Learners may think the verb "savvy" is common modern English because they see it in movies (for example, pirate characters saying "Savvy?"). In normal conversation, people almost always say "understand" or "get" instead. Use the verb "savvy" only if you want an old-fashioned, playful, or character-like style.
Meaning
to understand what is meant
Collocations
savvy the situation
|savvy the risks
|You savvy?
Synonyms
understand (Neutral and standard verb; does not carry the informal or playful tone that "savvy" often has.)
|
get (Informal like "savvy", but much more common and neutral in modern speech.)
Antonyms
misunderstand (To understand something wrongly; the direct opposite of "savvy" in this sense.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To understand what someone says or what is happening. This use is informal and not very common.
To understand or grasp what someone means or what is happening, often used humorously or in stylized speech.
Grammar
Dictionary form
savvy
IPA
GB/sˈævi/
US/sˈævi/
Syllables & stress
savvy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (savvy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: savvy
- Comparative: savvier
- Superlative: savviest
Noun
- Base: savvy
- Plural: savvy
Verb
- Base: savvy
- 3rd Person Singular: savvies
- Present Participle: savvying
- Past: savvied
Word family
Forms
savvies
verb
savvying
verb
savvied
verb
savvier
adjective
savviest
adjective
Related words
savviness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unsavvy
adjective
Expressions
media-savvy
1/mˈidiə sˈævi/
fixed phrase
skilled at using or handling media
Knowing how to use the media or social media in a smart way, especially to create a good image or send a message.
Examples
- The candidate is very media-savvy and knows how to handle tough questions on TV.
- Brands are looking for media-savvy influencers to promote their products.
street-savvy
1/stɹˈit sˈævi/
fixed phrase
informal
practically smart about city life
Having real-life knowledge and experience that helps you stay safe and make good choices in a tough city or social environment.
Examples
- You have to be street-savvy if you’re traveling alone in a big city.
- He’s not very street-savvy, so I worry about him walking home late at night.
tech-savvy
1/tˈɛk sˈævi/
fixed phrase
good at using technology
Good at using computers and other technology.
Examples
- You need to be tech-savvy to work in this office.
- We need a tech-savvy person to manage the new software.
- She’s very tech-savvy and always knows the latest apps.
- My grandmother is surprisingly tech-savvy and uses video calls every day.