el acierto

Definition & meaning

Acierto is a masculine noun meaning:

1. A correct answer or successful result—getting something right or achieving the intended outcome.
2. Good judgment or a wise choice—the ability to choose or act appropriately.
3. A successful shot or hit, especially in sports or games.

It can also be the first-person singular present tense of the verb acertar: “I get it right,” “I succeed,” or “I hit the target.”

Grammar & Word origin

As a noun, acierto is masculine: el acierto. Its plural is los aciertos. It comes from the verb acertar ↗, “to get right,” “to succeed,” or “to hit.” The noun is formed from the verb stem with the ending -o.

As a verb form, acierto means “I get it right” or “I succeed”; it is the present indicative form of acertar.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by meaning:

• éxito ↗ — “success”; emphasizes achieving a favorable result, while acierto often highlights that the choice or answer was correct.
• respuesta correcta ↗ — “correct answer”; applies specifically to an answer.
• buen juicio ↗ — “good judgment”; emphasizes sound decision-making.
• precisión ↗ — “accuracy”; stresses exactness, especially in aiming or performing.

Antonyms include:

• error ↗ — “mistake”; the broad opposite of getting something right.
• desacierto ↗ — “poor choice” or “mistake”; especially close to acierto when it means a sound decision.
• fallo ↗ — “failure,” “miss,” or “mistake”; often used for an unsuccessful attempt or an incorrect answer.

Common phrases & collocations

• tener un acierto ↗ — to make a good choice or have a success.
• un gran acierto ↗ — a great success or an especially good decision.
• pleno acierto ↗ — complete accuracy or success.
• a mi juicio, fue un acierto ↗ — “in my view, it was a good decision.”