savvy
UK: ˈsævi | US: ˈsævi
adj. having practical knowledge or understanding; shrewd
n. practical knowledge or mental alertness
vt. to understand or grasp something intuitively
savvy = sav<know> + vy<variant of -y (adjective suffix)>
- sav<know>: Derived from French savoir (to know), ultimately from Latin sapere (to be wise).
- vy<adjective suffix>: A variant of the English suffix -y, used to form adjectives indicating a quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word savvy entered English in the late 18th century via nautical slang, influenced by Spanish sabe (he knows) and French savoir. It originally referred to practical seamanship knowledge but broadened to mean general shrewdness. The playful suffix -vy (instead of -y) likely emerged from colloquial speech, giving the word its distinctive, informal tone.
She’s tech-savvy and fixes computers effortlessly.
Political savvy is essential for success in diplomacy.
Do you savvy the instructions, or should I explain again?
His business savvy helped him build a successful startup.
The team lacked the technical savvy to implement the new system.