talented
/ˈtæl.ən.tɪd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having a natural ability to do something well. It often suggests skill that comes easily, not only through hard practice.
- She is a talented singer.
- He is talented at maths.
- Our team has many talented young players.
Adinary Nuance
Talented is stronger and more specific than good or skilled. It usually suggests a natural gift, while skilled often means ability built by practice. Use talented when you want to praise someone’s special ability, not just basic competence.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- có tài
- Spanish
- talentoso
- Chinese
- 有天赋的
- Japanese
- 才能のある
- Korean
- 재능 있는
Etymology
Talented comes from the noun talent, which entered English from Old French and Latin. Its original meaning was about money or weight, but English later used it for natural ability.
Common phrases
a talented studenta talented musiciana talented teamhighly talented
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is talented the same as skilled?
- Not exactly. Talented suggests natural ability, while skilled often suggests learned ability.
- Can I say “talented in”?
- Usually no. Say talented at something, or talented in a field like art or music.
- Is talented formal or informal?
- It is neutral. You can use it in speaking, writing, school, and business.