pintar

Pintar is a word used in Indonesian and Malay to denote intelligence or skill. As an adjective, it describes people who are clever or capable, and it can also apply to abilities or things designed with intelligence or efficiency, such as smart devices or technologies (perangkat pintar, teknologi pintar).

The term is native to the Malay-speaking and Indonesian-speaking world, and its precise historical origins are not well defined. It is often considered synonymous with or distinct from pandai and cerdas, with subtle nuances: pandai emphasizes skill and practice, while pintar can cover both intellect and practical know‑how. In everyday usage, pintar is common across Indonesia and Malaysia and appears in a range of contexts.

Usage notes include its application to people (dia pintar), to abilities (pintar dalam matematika), and to products or systems described as intelligent (perangkat pintar, solusi pintar). The phrase orang pintar can refer to a knowledgeable or expert person. In compound forms, pintar frequently appears in modern terminology such as teknologi pintar or rumah pintar (smart home), reflecting its role in describing intelligent design and automation.

Cross-linguistically, the word pintar in Indonesian and Malay is distinct from the Spanish and Portuguese verb pintar, which means to paint. Despite the identical spelling, the meanings belong to different language families and have no direct etymological connection.