Italian Expression · Intermediate
essere in gamba
to be smart / to be capable / to be good at something
Pronunciation: ES-se-re in GAM-ba
Meaning
To be clever, competent, or sharp-witted.
Example
Quel nuovo impiegato è davvero in gamba, impara in fretta.
That new employee is really capable, he learns fast.
Practice tips
- Practice essere in gamba out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Italian expression is for intermediate-level learners.