perspicace

perceptive

adjective pehr-spee-KAHS Rare

Origin: Latin perspicax (sharp-sighted), from perspicere (to see clearly)

Also means

shrewd

Usage Note

Perspicace describes someone who grasps situations quickly and accurately. It is invariable for gender (the feminine is also perspicace). The noun perspicacité means perceptiveness or insight. It is a formal-register word; in everyday speech malin or fin might be used instead.

Examples

"Ce journaliste est très perspicace."

Natural Translation

This journalist is very perceptive.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Sorry in French: Désolé vs Pardon vs Excusez-moi

Use désolé for genuine regret, pardon to bump or squeeze past, and excusez-moi to get attention. A situation-by-situation guide to saying sorry in French.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read