World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesStreet-smarts
/ˈstriːtˌsmɑːrts/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Practical knowledge and common sense needed to survive and function effectively in urban or potentially hazardous environments.
"Living in a large metropolis requires a good deal of street-smarts to stay safe." - 2
Astuteness and shrewdness gained from real-world experience rather than formal schooling.
"He lacked formal business training, but his sharp street-smarts helped him build a successful enterprise."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from American slang in the mid-20th century, combining 'street' (representing urban environments and real-world experience) and 'smarts' (informal for intelligence). It emerged to contrast formal, academic education ('book-smarts') with practical survival and social navigation skills acquired in everyday urban life.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Street-smarts"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Street-smarts" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
débrouillardise
Transliteration: debruwardiz
"Il faut de la débrouillardise pour vivre dans cette grande ville."
Straßenwissen
Transliteration: ʃtʁaːsn̩ˌvɪsn̩
"Man braucht ein gewisses Straßenwissen in der Großstadt."
senso della strada
Transliteration: senso della strada
"Ci vuole molto senso della strada per cavarsela lì."
viveza callejera
Transliteration: bibeza kajehera
"La viveza callejera es esencial para sobrevivir en barrios difíciles."
malícia de rua
Transliteration: malisia dʒi ʁua
"Ele tem muita malícia de rua e sabe lidar com perigos."
व्यावहारिक ज्ञान
Transliteration: vyavaharik gyan
Script: हिंदी देवनागरी
"बड़े शहर में रहने के लिए व्यावहारिक ज्ञान की आवश्यकता होती है।"
处世能力
Transliteration: chǔshì nénglì
Script: 中文汉字
"在复杂的社会中生存需要一定的处世能力。"
눈치
Transliteration: nunchi
Script: 한국어 한글
"도시에서 살아남으려면 어느 정도의 눈치가 필요하다."
世渡り上手
Transliteration: watarijouzu
Script: 日本語
"大都会で生き抜くには世渡り上手でなければならない。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsA derogatory term for an unpleasant, annoying, or eccentric elderly woman.
An advocate or supporter of convivialism, a philosophy that promotes cooperative human living, shared social well-being, and respect for the natural environment over unbounded economic growth.
A cognitive operation that is conscious, intentional, requires active attention, and consumes limited working memory resources.
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