crítico
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “crítico” mean in English?
critical — analytical and evaluative; also: at a decisive/dangerous stage
critical — analytical and evaluative; also: at a decisive/dangerous stage (pensamiento crítico; estado crítico)
Example sentences
Desarrollar el pensamiento crítico es uno de los objetivos fundamentales de la educación en el siglo XXI.
Developing critical thinking is one of the fundamental objectives of education in the twenty-first century.
El comité es muy crítico con la forma en que se ha gestionado la crisis, aunque reconoce algunos avances.
The committee is very critical of the way the crisis has been handled, although it acknowledges some progress.
El paciente fue trasladado a la UCI; se encuentra en estado crítico tras la intervención.
The patient was transferred to the ICU; he is in critical condition following the operation.
How to use it
Crítico/a has two distinct B2 senses: (1) analytical/evaluative: pensamiento crítico (critical thinking), una mirada crítica (critical eye), ser crítico con algo (to be critical of something); (2) critical/crucial (at a decisive/dangerous stage): una fase crítica, una situación crítica, estar en estado crítico. Ser vs estar: sense (1) takes ser (character/attitude); sense (2) takes estar for temporary state ('el paciente está en estado crítico') or ser for classification ('esta es la fase crítica del proceso').
Common mistake
Two senses with different grammar: ser crítico = having a critical/analytical mindset or being disapproving of something; estar en estado crítico = being in a critical/dangerous condition. Also: ser crítico con alguien/algo = to be critical of someone/something — the preposition con is required. Don't write *ser crítico a — it's always crítico con for this sense.