sensato/a
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “sensato/a” mean in English?
sensible, judicious
sensible, judicious (wise and rational; una decisión sensata — false friend: NOT sensitive in the emotional sense)
Example sentences
Lo más sensato sería esperar a que lleguen los resultados del informe antes de comprometernos con ninguna opción.
The most sensible course of action would be to wait for the report's findings before committing to any option.
Una persona sensata no toma decisiones importantes cuando está bajo una presión emocional intensa.
A sensible person does not make important decisions when under intense emotional pressure.
Me parece sensato que se consulten todas las opciones disponibles antes de llegar a una conclusión definitiva.
I think it makes sense to consult all available options before reaching a definitive conclusion.
How to use it
Sensato/a means 'sensible', 'wise', or 'judicious' — NOT 'sensitive'. This is a significant false friend for English learners. Sensato describes someone or something that shows good practical judgement: una decisión sensata, ser sensato. The correct Spanish for English 'sensitive' is sensible (meaning emotionally perceptive, which is another false friend). The chain of confusion: English 'sensible' = Spanish sensato; English 'sensitive' = Spanish sensible. At B2, students are expected to control this distinction reliably.
Common mistake
The false friend trap is one of the most persistent at B2: English 'sensible' → Spanish sensato (good judgement); English 'sensitive' → Spanish sensible (emotionally perceptive). Saying 'Es muy sensible' about a colleague means they are emotionally sensitive, not sensible/wise. 'Es muy sensato' means they are wise/judicious. Confusing these produces unintended meaning — test yourself: a sensato decision = a sensible decision (good judgement call); a sensible topic = un tema delicado (sensitive, needing tact).