destreza

skill; dexterity

noun dehs-TREH-sah Rare

Origin: Latin dexteritas, via Old Spanish.

Usage Note

Destreza refers to a high degree of manual or mental skill, often implying elegance or ease ('con gran destreza' = with great skill). It is slightly more elevated than habilidad ('ability') and often appears in descriptions of craftsmanship, sports, or artistic performance. Language-learning teachers also use destrezas (plural) to mean the four skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking.

Examples

"Toca la guitarra con una destreza asombrosa."

Natural Translation

She plays the guitar with astonishing skill.

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